The bridge collapse is a ‘developing mass casualty event.’
During the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Maryland, a semi truck was thrown into the water. The incident occurred just before 1:30 a.m. on March 26th.
A container ship from Singapore struck the bridge over the Patapsco River, causing it to collapse. The bridge is 1.6 miles long with four lanes. It connects to the Baltimore harbor and Interstate 695.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge on I-695 in Maryland collapsed into the Baltimore harbor after being struck by a cargo ship early Tuesday morning. This incident triggered a search and rescue operation for individuals who fell into the cold waters.
The bridge broke apart and fell into the Patapsco River when the cargo ship collided with a support beam around 1:30 a.m. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, and there is no update on casualties.
Eight members of a construction crew fell into the water while performing routine work on the bridge. Six of them are missing, while two were rescued. The U.S. Coast Guard is actively searching for survivors.
The FBI is investigating the cause of the collision, ruling out terrorism as a motive. The ship’s crew had alerted authorities about a power issue before the impact.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, said, “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident,” the White House said in a statement.
“This is a dire emergency,” Cartwright added. He said there are “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge” acting as hazards that are creating potentially unsafe and unstable conditions.
“[At] 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” a spokesperson for Baltimore Police said.
Emergency crews, including the U.S. Coast Guard and local responders, are searching for individuals in the water. The cargo ship involved was the Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel with 22 crew members onboard.
All crew members were safe, and no injuries were reported. The bridge collapse has led to lane closures and traffic detours in the area.
The White House is monitoring the situation, stating there is no evidence of malicious intent. Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. confirmed the emergency response efforts.
The collapse occurred just two days after the 47th anniversary of the bridge’s construction. Hazards such as cargo hanging from the bridge are complicating rescue efforts.
The bridge, named after Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” opened in 1977.