A body has been found in the Patapsco River following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, on the US East Coast.
The collapse occurred when a massive container ship lost power early Tuesday and collided with the bridge, causing people and vehicles to plunge into the frigid river, officials stated.
A spokesperson for the US Coast Guard mentioned that the agency is currently
searching for six missing individuals.
These six individuals are believed to be members of a construction crew tasked with repairing potholes on the bridge, as stated by Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld during a news conference on Tuesday.
Before this, two individuals were rescued from the Patapsco River, according to Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace.
One person was unharmed, while the other was transported to a local trauma center in "very serious condition," Wallace stated.
A patient who was receiving treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center was discharged later on Tuesday, as confirmed by the hospital in a statement.
The crew of the ship issued a mayday call just moments before the crash that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, allowing authorities to limit traffic on the bridge, stated Maryland's governor.
The vessel collided with one of the bridge's supports, leading to its collapse. The
entire incident unfolded within seconds—a startling sight captured on video and shared on social media. The ship caught fire, emitting thick, black smoke.
With the ship approaching the bridge "at a very, very rapid speed," authorities had only enough time to halt incoming vehicles, Maryland Governor Wes Moore explained.
"These individuals are heroes," Moore commended. "They saved lives last night."
The crash occurred during the night, well before the busy morning commute on the 2.6 km-long bridge, which accommodated 12 million vehicles last year.
The six individuals still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew responsible for filling potholes on the bridge, mentioned Paul Wiedefeld, the state's transportation secretary. One of those rescued was transported to a hospital, he confirmed.
Several vehicles also plunged into the water, although authorities did not believe anyone was inside them.
Federal inspectors had assessed the 47-year-old bridge as being in fair condition last June. However, experts noted that the structure did not seem to have sufficient pier protection to withstand the collision.
The ship, under the management of Synergy Marine Group, was reportedly under the control of one or more pilots—local experts who aid in safely navigating vessels into ports.
The ship was traveling at a speed of 8 knots, roughly 15 km/hr, when it struck the bridge.
The vessel is owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., which confirmed that all crew members, including the two pilots, were safe with no reported injuries among those on board.
Authorities reported the detection of vehicles in the water using sonar, with depths of approximately 15 meters.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott described the event as "an unthinkable tragedy."
"Seeing the Key Bridge physically crumble like that, it was reminiscent of something from an action movie," he commented.
"Our primary focus right now, as it should be, is on the families and individuals impacted, as well as those risking their lives— not just for Baltimore City and Baltimore County, but for the entire state— in the effort to save lives," Scott emphasized.
Donald Heinbuch, a retired chief from Baltimore's fire department, recounted being jolted awake by a deep rumbling that shook his house for several seconds.
"It felt like an earthquake," he recalled.
Heinbuch rushed to the river's edge, where he was astonished by the scene.
"The ship was there, and the bridge was in the water, like it had been blown apart," he described.
Spanning the Patapsco River at the harbor's entrance, which leads to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the bridge was opened in 1977 and named after the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Wiedefeld announced that all vessel traffic to and from the port would be halted until further notice, although the facility remained open to trucks.
President Joe Biden expressed intentions to travel to Baltimore "as quickly as I can," assuring that the federal government would cover the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge.
"This will require considerable time," Biden acknowledged.
"The people of Baltimore can rest assured that we will stand with them every step of the way until the port is operational again and the bridge is reconstructed."
The FBI, present at the scene, stated that there was no credible information indicating terrorism.
Numerous local agencies are participating in the rescue operations, deploying specialized equipment required for extensive search efforts.
Wallace mentioned that divers would attempt to enter the water, yet they faced challenges such as currents, incoming tides, and low temperatures.
"These factors present additional challenges for us," he explained.
"We can conduct dives in these conditions, but we must consider many factors. There could be trauma involved, and they may have been in the water for an extended period."
In the morning, there was a noticeable smell of diesel fuel, though it was uncertain if there had been an oil spill from the ship.
The collapse is expected to create significant logistical challenges for months, if
not years, along the east coast, resulting in the suspension of ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore—a crucial shipping hub. The incident will also disrupt cargo and commuter traffic.
"Losing this bridge will have a devastating impact on the entire region, as well as
the entire East Coast," stated Maryland state Senator Johnny Ray Salling.
Highway signs as far south as Virginia warned drivers of delays related to the bridge.
"This is a grave emergency," emphasized Kevin Cartwright, communications director for the Baltimore Fire Department, in a statement to The Associated Press.
"Our primary focus right now is on the rescue and recovery of these individuals."
According to a buoy collecting data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the river's temperature was around 8 degrees Celsius in the early hours of Tuesday.
Near the bridge's entrance, remnants of its steel frame could be seen protruding from the water, with the on-ramp abruptly ending where the bridge once stood.
The ship in question is named Dali, as confirmed by Cartwright. A vessel bearing that name was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its final destination, according to Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder. The ship was flying under a Singaporean flag, reported WTOP radio station, citing Petty Officer Matthew West from the Coast Guard in Baltimore.
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