- In Baltimore, Maryland, the Key Bridge partially collapsed after a cargo ship rammed a pillar of the bridge.
- Rescue workers are currently looking for people who may have fallen into the water. Two people have now been rescued.
- According to rescue workers, several vehicles fell into the water.
“Our sonar has located submerged vehicles,” said James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore Fire Department. We don’t yet know how many there are. The first emergency calls were received around 1:30 a.m., reported the New York Times and CBS News, citing the Coast Guard and the fire department.
Governor declares state of emergency
The freighter rammed one of the bridge’s supports, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and fall into the water. The ship caught fire and thick, black smoke poured out of it. The governor of Maryland declared a state of emergency in the US state after the collapse.
It is currently unclear how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Reports that workers were on the bridge at the time of the accident are being investigated, said Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace.
No reports of deaths or injuries
The number of missing people is preliminary and could still rise, it was said. According to the fire department, two people have been rescued from the water. The search is still ongoing for at least seven more people. One person was taken to a hospital in serious condition, the Baltimore fire chief said. There are currently no reports of deaths or injuries.
The temperatures are cause for great concern, and not just with regard to the casualties, said Baltimore fire department spokesman Kevin Cartwright to CNN. The outside temperature feels like minus 1 degree Celsius or less, the water is certainly colder, explained Cartwright. “This can be a concern and a risk for our divers.”
There were no injuries on the ship, it said on Tuesday morning (local time) in a statement that was available to the New York Times. The owners confirmed the incident. The ship “Dali” was supposed to sail from Baltimore to Sri Lanka under the Singapore flag, the New York Times and CBS News reported, citing the Coast Guard. The cause of the collision still needs to be determined.
Serving since 1977
The Francis Scott Key Bridge leads over the harbor of the metropolis in the northeast of the USA. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, it is more than 2.5 kilometers long and has four lanes. It spanned the Patapsco River and was a major artery that, along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. It was opened in 1977.
1 / 4
Legend: A bridge in two parts: In daylight, the extent of the collapse becomes visible. AP Photo/Steve Ruark
2 / 4
Legend: A container ship rammed one of the bridge’s supports. Keystone / EPA / IM LO SCALZO
3 / 4
Caption: The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed during the night (local time). Reuters/Harford County MD Fire & EMS
4 / 4
Legend: Rescue team at the Scott Key Bridge: Divers are also on duty. Keystone / EPA / JIM LO SCALZO
As recently as February 2024, five people died in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong after a freighter rammed a car bridge and caused it to partially collapse. In Brazil, a nearly 900-meter-long road bridge over the Moju River collapsed in April 2019 after a ferry rammed one of the massive pillars.
In January 2012, a ship loaded with rocket parts for the US Air Force and the NASA space agency tore a gap more than 90 meters long in a road bridge in the US state of Kentucky. The captain had taken the wrong route under the bridge, which was only designated for water sports enthusiasts and not for heavy ships.