Hydrothermal eruption
November 6, 2009
Water continued to erupt from the ground near the German state of Hesse's Ministry of Finance in Wiesbaden on Friday. Workers drilling for geothermal energy on Thursday accidently unleashed the powerful water spill.
The water stood under high pressure approximately 130 meters (427 feet) below ground when disturbed by the drilling. At times, up to 6,000 liters (1,585 gallons) of water per minute poured from the hole.
Overnight on Thursday, workers blocked the original flood by pouring concrete into the drilling site, but the water has since erupted at new places nearby.
Sandbagging has thus far contained the flood of water and mud, which is a meter deep and being transported away with trucks. The containment efforts have prevented any damage to the Ministry of Finance and surrounding buildings.
Drilling to support eco-friendly architecture
Workers had been drilling holes to determine whether geothermal energy could power a planned annex to the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry intends for the annex to be a so-called "passive" structure, one that produces all of the energy it consumes, according to Michael Hohmann, office manager at the Ministry of Finance in Wiesbaden.
Wiesbaden is the capital of the state of Hesse and is well-known for its many thermal springs and spas.
gw/DPA/AP
Editor: Mark Mattox