A 1.6-mile-long bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, has collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship in the early hours of this morning.
The incident has been described as a “mass casualty event” with rescue workers seen searching for at least seven people who are believed to be in the water, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.
Up to 20 people and several vehicles have fallen into the Patapsco River, the Department said.
Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, said on Tuesday morning: “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
Baltimore Bridge is 1.6 miles long,
this is the moment it collapsed after a cargo ship struck it in the early hours of this morning
pic.twitter.com/eA6womQlcI— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 26, 2024
Governor of Marykland, Wes Moore, has declared a state of emergency in the state in the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Mr Moore said today, as he thanked the “brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety”.
Statement from @GovWesMoore on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge:
My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fire Department as…
— Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) March 26, 2024
He said that the federal, state and local entities would continue to assess and respond to the tragedy.
While the cause of the tragedy is unclear, the container ship is believed to have set off from Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal at roughly 00:24 local time (04:24 GMT) on 26 March, with its speed steadily increasing as it travelled along the Patapsco River.
MarineTraffic data shows that the cargo ship suddenly diverted from its straight route south east, and began to slow down. Video footage recorded around this time shows all lights on the exterior ship turn off, with smoke emerging from the ship’s funnel. It struck the bridge at 01:28 local time, causing the collapse.
It emerged this morning that the container ship that hit the bridge was chartered by the Danish shipping company Maersk.
In a statement, Maersk said: “We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected.”