VIDEO: Shark Tank Explodes in China - East Idaho News
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VIDEO: Shark Tank Explodes in China

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W 122712 SharkTankChinaABCJPG?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1356624186102ABC News(SHANGHAI) — When a 33-ton shark tank suddenly exploded last week in a busy Shanghai pedestrian shopping mall, it happened so quickly that not even one camera-happy bystander was able to film it.

The moment, however, was captured on closed circuit security camera.

The dramatic just-released video shows four people standing immediately in front of the gigantic 23 ft-by-10 ft shark aquarium at the Oriental Shopping Center moments before it shattered.  Pedestrians could be seen passing behind them.

One unidentified man, who was the closest to the glass, is seen holding up what seems to be a camera to take pictures of the sharks. Three others are shown engaged in conversation, not even paying attention to the tank.

Suddenly, something changed off-screen and silent security video shows all four stopped in their tracks. Before any of them had time to react, a rush of water and large shards of glass swallow them in an instant, pushing them out onto the street.

The video shows that the force of the explosion was so strong, it tore down cosmetic stands inside the shopping center on the other side of aquarium.

The December 19 incident left 15 bystanders injured and three sharks dead.

The Shanghai Daily reported that eight of those injured were believed to be customers, while the other seven were mall staff.

There is still no official explanation as to why the shark tank exploded. It was only two years old but it has been speculated that a sudden cold snap that day in Shanghai may have contributed to the thick aquarium glass shattering.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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