The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore experienced a catastrophic collapse after being struck by the container ship Dali in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The bridge, an integral part of I-695, saw its steel arches and roadway crumble into the Patapsco River following the collision. This incident led to an immediate mass casualty declaration, with six individuals from a construction crew, engaged in patching potholes on the bridge, reported missing.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore revealed that the ship had issued a mayday signal indicating a loss of power prior to the accident. The swift action taken by bridge workers to halt traffic was commended by the governor, who stated that their quick thinking likely saved many lives. Despite these efforts, the construction crew members fell into the chilly waters below, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation led by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Two individuals were rescued from the water; one was in critical condition and received immediate medical attention, while the other declined treatment. The search for possible survivors continued into Tuesday morning, with the river’s depth at around 50 feet and a temperature of approximately 47 degrees Fahrenheit, presenting challenging conditions for the divers.
The Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, was capable of carrying nearly 130,000 tons of cargo and supplies. Its collision with the bridge was attributed to a “lost propulsion” issue as it departed from the Port of Baltimore, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency obtained by ABC News. Despite the severity of the incident, all 22 crew members aboard the Dali were accounted for without any reported injuries.
The aftermath of the bridge collapse has prompted local and federal authorities to spring into action, with Maryland’s governor declaring a state of emergency and seeking federal assistance for the recovery efforts. The FBI was also present at the scene to aid in the investigation. The calamitous event, captured in a YouTube livestream, has left the Baltimore community and the nation in shock, underscoring the grave consequences of the collision and the ongoing efforts to find those still missing.