3 sharks killed when aquarium breaks

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SHANGHAI, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Three sharks died when a large aquarium broke at a Chinese shopping center, injuring 15 people.

The aquarium had been a popular attraction at the Orient Shopping Center in Shanghai for two years. But Chen Yongping, an executive at the center, said it will not be replaced, Shanghai Daily reported.

The accident occurred earlier this month. Water cascaded from the tank, which was more than 20 feet long and 10 feet high, with a capacity of 33.5 tons.

Most of the injured were in the shopping center but one man was hurt as water flowed into a pedestrian street outside. The most seriously injured person was a man hit by falling glass who suffered broken bones in his leg and severe cuts.

The three sharks had all been raised in the tank. They were all small, less than 2 feet in length.

A man who gave his name as Li said he was hit by a falling frame.

"It just suddenly broke and fell off," he told the Daily.

The aquarium had a previous accident in June when a water pipe broke. Two sharks died in that incident, and the center moved four sea turtles out of the tank.