Bridge collapses after ship impacts in the US, leaving 7 people missing
The incident occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, where several vehicles and workers present at the site ended up falling into the water. Two people were rescued, one of them in serious condition. Diving teams face a race against the clock and temperatures of 9ºC at depth, a scenario that poses a fatal risk of hypothermia. The state governor declared a state of emergency in response to the situation.
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge submerged in water -Photo Reproduction/AP
A bridge collapsed after a cargo ship collided with one of its support columns,in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States, resulting in the disappearance of seven people. The incident occurred during the early hours of Tuesday (26) and was captured by a monitoring camera. Rescue teams reported that divers are searching for survivors in the water, while the state governor declared a state of emergency. Initial information indicated the possibility of up to 20 people missing, however, firefighters say there is still no exact number of individuals in the water.
"We're still in a search and rescue situation right now, and we'll be in it for some time," Wallace said. "It's a terrible emergency," Baltimore Fire Department communications director Kevin Cartwright told the AP.
Incident Description
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning 2.57 km, was constructed of steel and opened to traffic in 1977. Spanning four lanes, this bridge is a vital component of Interstate 695, offering a crucial route along the beltway that bypasses the city in the state of Maryland, in the United States. Its name pays homage to the composer of the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. A video shared live on YouTube captured the moment a ship collided with the bridge in darkness, resulting in its main section collapsing into the Patapsco River.
The violent impact led to the immediate collapse of the bridge. Authorities reported that an undetermined number of vehicles were traveling across the bridge at the time of the incident, including at least one large truck. Furthermore, workers were carrying out maintenance activities on the structure during the early hours of the morning when the collision occurred. See the video below.
Moment in which the siege ship collides with one of the support columns of the Francis Scott Key Bridge
Vessel tracking information revealed that the Singapore-flagged container ship named Dali was in the area of the bridge where the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET (2:30 am, Brasília time), this Tuesday. Calls to emergency services indicated the ship was leaving Baltimore. The 290-meter (948-foot) Dali departed Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was sailing toward Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, according to maritime data provided by the MarineTraffic platform.
Shipping company Maersk said it chartered the vessel. Reuters news agency cited the ship's manager, Synergy Marine Group, as saying the crew, including the two pilots, had been located and there were no reports of injuries on board.
The port from which the ship departed is recognized as one of the busiest in the country, standing out as a crucial shipping center on the east coast of the USA, with a special emphasis on the transport of road vehicles. Additionally, it plays a significant role in handling agricultural products, construction machinery and coal, according to information provided by an official Maryland government website.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams were immediately mobilized to the scene of the accident. Helicopters flew overhead, while divers were sent to search beneath the wreckage in hopes of finding survivors. However, to date, only a few survivors have been rescued, leaving seven people still missing. To facilitate rescue operations, the Maryland Transportation Authority closed all lanes in the area of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a crucial route that crosses the Patapsco River and connects important points in the city. Maritime traffic in the port of Baltimore was also interrupted and there is no forecast for its resumption.
Rescue teams are in a race against time in Baltimore this morning, facing temperatures of around -1ºC, as reported by CNN. With the water registering approximately 9ºC, there is a real risk of hypothermia, depending on the length of exposure. Firefighters are using drones equipped with infrared cameras and sonar to assist in the search. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency, while US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in contact with the governor and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
Despite the incident, the city's police department found no evidence of terrorist activity or that the incident was intentionally provoked. According to ABC News, the ship lost propulsion while maneuvering to leave port.
