A bitcoin mining center in El Reno, Oklahoma, experienced a major water leak last week. The incident resulted in the closure of several local schools, businesses, and city government offices.
The facility is owned by Athlon Blockchain LLC. The leak released approximately 3 million gallons (11.36 million liters) of water, causing significant disruption to the city's infrastructure.
The city of El Reno had previously identified multiple fire safety violations at the data center. Both its building and electrical permits had expired, leading the city to issue a stop-work order in 2023.
Local authorities stated that taxpayers will not bear the cost of the damages. The city plans to pursue full reimbursement from the property owner and will initiate necessary legal actions.
It remains unclear how the mining center continued to operate after the stop-work order was issued in 2023. The municipal government intends to strengthen compliance checks to prevent future occurrences.
