The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore suffered a collapse in the early hours of Tuesday. A support column of the bridge was struck by a large container ship, which had lost power. This unfortunate incident resulted in vehicles and individuals being plunged into the Patapsco River. Authorities are currently investigating the matter.
According to Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard, six individuals are still unaccounted for and are believed to have perished. However, two individuals were successfully rescued from the water.
All eight individuals were members of a construction crew responsible for repairing potholes on the bridge, according to Wiedefeld. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Security Board, confirmed that these workers were employed by a local company called Brawner Builders.
One of the workers who had been rescued did not sustain any injuries. The other worker received medical treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center and has since been released, as reported by CBS Baltimore station WJZ.
Officials decided to suspend search and rescue operations at 7:30 p.m. ET, as they shifted their focus to recovery efforts.
According to Gilreath, considering the duration of the search, the exhaustive efforts made, and the water temperature, it is now unlikely that any of the individuals will be found alive.
According to Col. Roland Butler Jr. of the Maryland State Police, the hazardous conditions in the water, which involve unpredictable currents, limited visibility, and potentially dangerous debris, pose a significant risk to divers and first responders.
According to Butler Jr., divers are scheduled to commence recovery operations at 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday. At present, the exact location of the victims remains unknown.
According to Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two of the missing workers were Guatemalan nationals. The ministry revealed that one of the workers was 26 years old, while the other was 35 years old. In response to the incident, the state’s consul general was present at the site, providing assistance to the families affected by the tragedy.
According to a statement released by CASA, the nonprofit organization has identified Miguel Luna as one of the workers who went missing. Miguel Luna, originally from El Salvador, has been living in Maryland for over 19 years and is described as a husband and father of three.
Several men from Honduras and Mexico, who are now presumed dead, were also among the missing.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, during a recent news conference on Tuesday afternoon, expressed his commitment to utilizing all available resources in order to ensure a comprehensive and effective search and rescue operation. He emphasized, “We will not withhold any resources necessary to carry out this mission to its fullest potential.”
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims,” expressed Moore in a statement on Tuesday evening, following the suspension of rescue operations. “We remain committed to collaborating with local, state, and federal authorities to ensure that we can offer the affected individuals the closure they deserve.”
According to CBS News, Rep. David Trone of Maryland stated that underwater drones will likely be utilized for the recovery efforts. Trone emphasized that these drones possess the capability to locate the cars and mentioned that authorities have already identified one vehicle that is likely to contain casualties.
According to Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, the construction crew was in the midst of working on the bridge’s span when the crash occurred.
“I am completely taken aback by this,” expressed Pritzker. “We are at a loss for words.”
“We have always placed a strong emphasis on safety, going to great lengths to ensure it. We have implemented measures such as using cones, signs, lights, barriers, and flaggers,” he emphasized. “However, the collapse of the bridge was something we never anticipated.”
Moore wasted no time in taking action after the collapse, promptly declaring a state of emergency. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed gratitude for the courageous individuals involved in the rescue operations, highlighting their invaluable efforts. Working alongside an interagency team, they swiftly mobilized federal resources provided by the Biden Administration. Moore also requested prayers for the safety of all those affected by the incident.
The Dali, a ship flying the Singapore flag, was under the operation of Synergy Marine Group, a charter vessel company. Maersk, a shipping company, had chartered the Dali to transport cargo belonging to their customers.
According to a statement from Synergy, the ship had a total of 22 crew members, which included two pilots. All 22 crew members are Indian nationals. Synergy has taken immediate action by activating its incident response team and is actively cooperating with state and federal officials. Homendy mentioned that the NTSB is in contact with Singaporean officials as they conduct their investigation.
According to Wiedefeld, the FBI was present at the scene to investigate any potential terrorism connection, but they confirmed that there was none.
During a press conference held by the FBI’s Baltimore field office, Special Agent in Charge William DelBagno stated that there is currently no specific or credible information indicating any connections to terrorism in relation to this incident.
According to a CBS News report, the search for the missing individuals has been intensified with the involvement of FBI dive teams. The FBI underwater search and evidence response team is currently actively conducting underwater operations. Additionally, the FBI has dispatched a victim specialist to provide support and assistance to the affected families.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Tuesday morning that they had sent a team of 24 individuals to investigate the incident. Currently, the team is awaiting permission to board the ship in order to facilitate ongoing search and rescue operations. NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy expressed hope that they would be able to access recordings from the ship by Tuesday night or Wednesday.
The Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that it will deploy around 1,100 specialists to assist in the recovery efforts.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced that it will take the lead in clearing the Federal channel as part of the broader interagency recovery effort. In collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, they are closely working together to identify the necessary steps to remove the collapsed bridge.
Ship had a “power issue” before the collision
According to officials, the ship experienced a loss of power just before the collision. Moore mentioned that the crew promptly informed the authorities about a problem with the ship’s power.
According to CBS News, two U.S. officials revealed that the ship’s pilots and crew were alerted to an issue on board when multiple alarms sounded. In an attempt to address the loss of propulsion from the motor, the crew conducted several system tests, but unfortunately, none of them were successful. Realizing the urgency of the situation, the pilot immediately contacted the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority for assistance.
According to Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, the bridge collapsed approximately two minutes after the ship’s pilot reported the issue to state authorities.
During a news conference, officials announced that the call provided them with the opportunity to issue a mayday and halt the flow of traffic onto the bridge.
According to Moore, stopping traffic onto the bridge last night “saved lives.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also acknowledged that the mayday call played a crucial role in “saving many lives” and enabling emergency responders to arrive promptly.
Officials have not provided clarification regarding the number of vehicles that were on the bridge at the time of its collapse. Infrared video footage reveals that vehicles did go into the water, but it is uncertain whether these vehicles were occupied. As of mid-morning, several vehicles still remain in the river.
According to Homendy, it is still too early in the investigation to determine the exact timeline of events for the accident.
Multiple officials have stated that the ship’s crew made an attempt to deploy the anchor, but it is still uncertain how much progress was achieved.
According to James Mercante, president of the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners, if a ship loses both steering and power, it becomes essentially lifeless, being carried only by the current or its own momentum.
“It’s incredible to think that even after dropping the anchors, it would still take quite a while, about the length of five or six football fields, for that ship to come to a stop. This massive vessel possesses such immense power and momentum that it truly is a behemoth,” remarked Mercante.
“An unthinkable tragedy”
The Baltimore mayor rushed to the scene and expressed to reporters at a morning briefing that the collapse was “an unimaginable tragedy.”
“We must begin by offering our prayers to all those who have been affected, including their families. It is important that we also pray for our first responders and express our gratitude for their heroic efforts,” Scott emphasized.
According to a witness who spoke to CBS News Baltimore, the collapse produced a tremendous sound that shook his house.
He emphasized that their main focus is to save lives and engage in search and rescue operations.
Location of the Key Bridge in Baltimore
The Patapsco River, a crucial waterway connecting the Port of Baltimore to the East Coast shipping hub, is crossed by the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
According to CBS News Baltimore, around 31,000 individuals utilized the 1.6-mile bridge on a daily basis, and it facilitated the movement of approximately 11.5 million vehicles each year.
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, there was a complete closure of all lanes in both directions on I-695. As a result, traffic was redirected to I-95 and I-895 for detour purposes.
Ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, the second-largest seaport in the mid-Atlantic region, has come to a complete halt. In 2023, the port handled over $80 billion worth of imports and exports, reaching a 20-year record, according to Census data.
The bridge, which was opened in 1977, bears the name of the renowned writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took to social media to express his support for Governor Moore and Mayor Scott in the aftermath of the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Secretary Buttigieg assured that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is ready to provide assistance. He also urged drivers in the Baltimore area to follow the guidance of local responders regarding detours and response efforts.
