State officials announced on Wednesday that they have recovered the bodies of two individuals from the waters where the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday in Baltimore.
Divers made further progress in the search for the missing individuals in Baltimore’s Patapsco River on Wednesday. Around 10 a.m., they discovered a red pickup truck submerged in approximately 25 feet of water, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of Maryland State Police.
Divers successfully rescued two individuals who were trapped inside the truck, according to Butler. The victims were later identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, a 35-year-old resident of Baltimore, and Dorlián Castillo Cabrera, a 26-year-old resident of Dundalk. Butler mentioned that Fuentes hailed from Mexico, while Cabrera was originally from Guatemala.
A group of construction workers were in the process of filling potholes overnight on Tuesday when a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in its collapse at approximately 1:30 a.m. Two individuals were successfully rescued on Tuesday, while four others are still missing and are presumed to have lost their lives.
The ship, known as Dali, was en route to Sri Lanka.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Butler stated that they are transitioning from a recovery mode to a salvage operation due to the current conditions. He mentioned that the vehicles are surrounded by a significant amount of concrete and debris, making it unsafe for divers to navigate or operate in that area.
Officials are confident that the vehicles are trapped within the collapsed superstructure and concrete, based on sonar scans of the surrounding wreckage. The search operation was concluded at around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Butler, once the salvage operation is completed and the superstructure is removed, the divers will return to provide closure for the affected individuals.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) emphasized that this phase should not be seen as a conclusion, but rather as a continuation. He emphasized the importance of taking it just as seriously as previous phases.
The incident has resulted in the closure of the Port of Baltimore, and officials have not provided a specific timeline for its reopening. However, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has assured residents that the channel will be reopened as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the reopening process is carried out correctly.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that there is currently no set timeline for reopening the port, highlighting the fact that a significant portion of it is located beneath the bridge. He voiced his concerns regarding the potential economic consequences of the port’s closure, highlighting the direct association of 8,000 jobs with its operations and the daily movement of over $100 million worth of cargo through the port.
President Biden has made a commitment to reconstruct the bridge, expressing his anticipation for the federal government to cover the expenses with the assistance of Congress.
