Burst pipe floods Berlin apartment block during freezing January night

A midnight disaster turned a Berlin apartment into a waterfall. Now, tenants face repairs—and questions about why the heating failed in the deep freeze.

, and Administrator

2026 January 6 . 5:10 PM

1 min read

As we can see in the image there is a water pipe.

Water Pipe Burst During Power Outage in Berlin-Zehlendorf - Burst pipe floods Berlin apartment block during freezing January night

A burst water pipe caused major flooding in a Berlin apartment block during a freezing January night. The incident happened on Potsdamer Chaussee in the Nikolassee area, with water pouring from the second floor down to the basement. Emergency crews were called to the scene in the early hours of January 6, 2026.

The pipe burst around midnight on the second floor of the rental building. Residents reported water cascading through multiple floors before pooling in the basement. Firefighters arrived at 12:35 a.m. after receiving the emergency call.

The suspected cause is severe frost combined with a power outage that knocked out the heating system. Without warmth, the pipes likely froze and then ruptured. Investigators have not yet confirmed this theory, but conditions that night were unusually cold. Crews quickly shut off the building’s water supply to stop the flow. No other properties in the area reported similar issues during the same period.

The incident left parts of the building waterlogged, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Authorities will continue assessing the cause and any necessary repairs. Residents have been advised to monitor for lingering issues from the flood.