In Baltimore, a large ship lost power and collided with a significant bridge on Tuesday morning, causing the bridge to break and fall into the river below. Some vehicles dropped into the cold water, and rescuers looked for survivors.
The people operating the ship sent out a distress signal just before the crash that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to fall, allowing authorities to restrict vehicle traffic on the bridge, according to Maryland’s governor.
The ship hit one of the supports of the bridge, causing the structure to collapse rapidly. It fell into the water within seconds, and there is video evidence of this shocking event posted on social media. The ship caught fire, and thick, dark smoke came out of it.
This incident occurred well before the busy morning commute and has been described by an official as a “developing mass casualty event.” Two people were rescued, and six others who were working on the bridge when it collapsed were missing.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott expressed astonishment, stating, “It seemed unreal to physically witness the Key Bridge collapse like that. It looked like something out of a action movie,” referring to it as “an unthinkable tragedy.”
Authorities mentioned that a team of unknown size was working on the bridge when it collapsed, and sonar detected cars in the approximately 50-foot-deep water. Before dawn on Tuesday, the water temperature was around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius), according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, mentioned to The Associated Press that several vehicles, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck, were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. The bridge fell during the night when traffic would be lighter compared to the daytime, when thousands of cars cross the bridge.
Cartwright referred to the collapse as a “developing mass casualty event,” although the number of affected individuals was unknown at the time.
The company managing the ship, called the Dali, confirmed that the vessel struck a part of the bridge at around 1:30 a.m. while under the control of one or more local pilots responsible for safely guiding vessels into ports. The ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd.
According to the company, all crew members, including the two pilots on board, were safe, and there were no reports of injuries.
At dawn on Tuesday, the broken remains of the bridge could be seen sticking out of the water. The on-ramp ended abruptly where the bridge used to begin.
Cartwright mentioned that some cargo seemed to be hanging from the bridge, which stretches over the Patapsco River at the entrance to a bustling harbor that leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub on the East Coast. The bridge, named after the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was opened in 1977.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld stated that all ship traffic in and out of the port would be stopped until further notice, although the port remained open for trucks.
Governor Wes Moore announced a state of emergency and said he was working to secure federal resources. The FBI was present, but stated there was no reliable information suggesting terrorism. President Joe Biden was given information.
The Dali was traveling from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and was flying a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is approximately 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, as per the website.
Danish shipping company Maersk stated it had leased the vessel, which was transporting its customers’ cargo. No Maersk crew and staff were on board. The incident caused Maersk's share at the Nasdaq Copenhagen to drop 2% in early Tuesday trading.
In 2001, a freight train carrying dangerous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore, ignited, and released black smoke into nearby areas, leading authorities to temporarily close all major roads into the city.
