The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed early Tuesday morning after being struck by an out-of-control cargo ship in what authorities are calling a “mass casualty event.” As first responders begin searching for at least seven people believed to have fallen into the frigid water during the collision, city officials are also warning that the bridge collapse has jeopardized shipping traffic and vehicle travel at one of the East Coast’s most critical ports.
Video footage of the crash shows the cargo ship, a 32,000-ton vessel called the Dali chartered to Maersk and sailing under the flag of Singapore, approaching the bridge at approximately 1:30 am EST. The ship’s lights suddenly go out, suggesting a possible loss of power, then briefly flicker back on before going dark once again. The fully loaded container ship steered directly into one of the bridge’s supports, sending the entire structure plummeting into the water below.
Check this out: video (sped up at parts) with a better breakdown of the entire incident, resulting in the container ship striking the Key Bridge: pic.twitter.com/Hw67SHzjKl
— DMV News Live (@DCNewsLive) March 26, 2024
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Emergency responders, including the US Coast Guard and a number of dive teams, are now searching for at least a dozen people believed to have been on the bridge, but that number is likely to change. Two people have already been rescued, one unharmed and another in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace.
“We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point, and we will continue to be for some time,” Wallace said.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed that contractors were working on the bridge at the time of the collapse, but did not provide further details on exact numbers.
Baltimore Police Chief Richard Worley further added that there is “absolutely no indication that there’s any terrorism, that this was done on purpose.” This assessment was echoed by the White House, which confirmed that there is “no indication of any nefarious incident.”
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is likely to cause massive disruptions at the Port of Baltimore, a critical shipping point that handles more than 10 million tons of cargo annually. There are currently 21 other vessels waiting west of the bridge wreckage, with authorities unsure how long it will take to get them back out to sea.
At the time of the crash, the Dali, which had arrived from China on Sunday, was bound for Sri Lanka.
The bridge collapse is also likely to slow or halt ground distribution of major companies including Amazon, FedEx, Home Depot, and others, which all have distribution warehouses in the port’s industrial park.
With the bridge out, commuter traffic in the area will be rerouted, adding an extra hour to travel times through Baltimore.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to VT.com for updates.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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