2024-03-26 16:46:55
A major bridge collapsed in the city of Baltimore in the US after a cargo ship crashed into it early Tuesday morning, sending cars and people plunging into the river below.
According to news agency Reuters, Baltimore officials are claiming that at least eight people were thrown into River Patapsco after the 2.57 km-long Francis Scott Key Bridge crumpled into the water. However, the actual number of people who fell into the water remains unclear as the search and rescue operations continue.
The container ship named the Dali, which crashed into the bridge, had 22 crew members on board. All the crew members were Indian and they were safe.
Here’s all we know so far
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At 1.27 am on Tuesday (local time), the cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is one of the busiest in the port city in Maryland.
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A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, showed the moment the 3 km-long bridge collapsed.
The vessel appeared to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to the video on X.
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At the time of the collision, a construction crew was fixing potholes on the bridge. At least eight people fell into the freezing water, of which two have been rescued. While one of them was unharmed, reports say the other person is critically injured.
An aerial view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore. (Photo: Reuters) The search for the remaining six people continues.
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According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the cargo ship’s crew notified authorities of a power issue before the crash which “likely saved many lives”.
“We are thankful that between the mayday and the collapse, that we had officials who were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not on the bridge,” CNN quoted Moore as saying.
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The White House said that US President Joe Biden was briefed about the collision. So far, there was no indication of nefarious intent, the White House said.
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In a statement, Synergy Marine Group, the charter manager of the Singapore-flagged container Dali, said that all 22 crew members who were aboard were Indians.
Synergy said the Dali collided with one of the pillars of the bridge and that all its crew members, including the two pilots, were safe.
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Traffic was suspended at the Port of Baltimore until further notice, Reuters reported citing Maryland transportation authorities.
A satellite image shows the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. (Photo: Reuters) -
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency to deploy federal resources to deal with the emergency.
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Port of Baltimore is the busiest port in the US for car shipments, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2022.
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Built in 1977, the Bridge was named after Francis Scott Key, the author of the American national anthem.
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