Baltimore bridge collapse: Six presumed dead after ship collides with bridge
Six individuals are believed to have perished following a collision between a ship and the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, USA.
The Coast Guard has announced the cessation of its search efforts and the initiation of a recovery operation.
The bridge, spanning over 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles), gave way as a container ship collided with one of its supports while multiple vehicles were traversing it.
Authorities reported that the vessel encountered a “power issue” and issued a distress signal just moments before the tragic incident.
A substantial search and rescue mission, involving boats and helicopters, ensued in pursuit of the six missing individuals. Two others were rescued from the water, one in critical condition.
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard stated in the evening that the remaining missing individuals are presumed deceased, considering the water temperature and the duration since they went under.
Reports indicate they were part of a construction crew performing repairs on the bridge when it collapsed.
The container ship, flying the flag of Singapore and named Dali, struck a support column of the 47-year-old bridge at 01:30 local time (05:30 GMT) while en route from the Port Breeze terminal to the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
A US federal government agency said the vessel “lost propulsion” as it was leaving the port.
The crew then warned Maryland transport officials of a possible collision, according to an unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report on the incident.
Maryland state governor Wes Moore said he could confirm that “the crew notified authorities of a power issue,” adding that the ship lost power before smashing into one of the columns supporting the bridge.
A number of vehicles, including “one the size of a tractor-trailer” plunged into the water below, officials said.
A major rescue operation is being led by the Baltimore Fire Department, the US Coastguard, and other agencies from the state of Maryland.
Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace confirmed that two people were rescued and one of them had been “transported to a local trauma centre… in a very serious condition”.
Mr Wallace said the tide was posing a challenge to rescue efforts. Local officials said another huge concern for rescue teams was the freezing conditions, with air temperatures of about 3C (37.4F) near the bridge.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott described the incident as an “unthinkable a tragedy”, adding the focus right now should be on “the people, the lives, the souls… there are people in the water that we have to get out and that’s the only thing we should be talking about.”
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said engineers were at the site determining the structural impact of the collapse.
Shipping company Synergy Marine Group told the BBC the ship had an all-Indian crew with 22 people on board.
It said in a statement that all crew members – including two harbor pilots – had been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.
“The exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined” and the ship owner was “fully cooperating” with federal agencies, the statement added.
Shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel and was carrying its customers’ cargo.
“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected”, it said in a statement. No Maersk crew and personnel were onboard the vessel.
US President Joe Biden said he would travel to Baltimore as soon as possible, and that search and rescue efforts should be prioritized.
“I’ve directed my team to move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible,” he said.
He said the collapse was an accident and that federal government would “pay for the entire cost of that bridge” – the spending, he added, would need to be approved by members of congress.
