A search and rescue effort is underway after the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Interstate 695 in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday when it was struck by a ship, inflicting quite a few automobiles to plunge into the Patapsco River under.
Eight individuals are believed to have fallen into the water following the collapse simply earlier than 1:30 a.m. Six of these people remained unaccounted for as of 10 a.m. native time, authorities stated at a press convention.
The eight folks had been a part of a building crew filling potholes, stated Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. Their work had nothing to do with the construction of the bridge, which was as much as code, Gov. Wes Moore stated.
Two of these folks had been pulled from the water, stated James Wallace, hearth chief of Baltimore Metropolis Fireplace Division (BCFD), at an earlier press convention. One particular person was unhurt and refused remedy, whereas the opposite was transported to a neighborhood trauma middle and is in “very severe situation.”
Footage shared on social media confirmed the second of the collapse:
The ship misplaced energy and despatched out a mayday name instantly earlier than colliding with the bridge. This alert prompted staff on the bridge to cease automobiles from persevering with onto it, stated Moore.
“These individuals are heroes,” he stated of these staff.
Dive groups had been on the scene, with sonar having detected the presence of submerged automobiles, Wallace stated earlier. The temperature on the port was round 30 levels Fahrenheit on the time of the incident.
BCFD’s Wallace, talking with CNN, stated that they had detected three passenger automobiles, a cement truck and a fifth automobile submerged within the water utilizing infrared and sonar expertise. Authorities haven’t stated whether or not there might be folks trapped inside.
“That is an unthinkable tragedy,” Mayor Brandon Scott stated. “We have now to at the beginning pray for all of those that are impacted.”
Baltimore Chief Richard Worley stated, “There’s completely no indication that there’s any terrorism” or that the ship crash was intentional.
Moore additionally stated {that a} preliminary investigation “factors to an accident.”
Requested about the potential for a chemical spill, Wallace stated they’ve seen “odors of diesel gas” however haven’t been in a position to verify there’s a spill. The entire officers on the information convention confused the fast-moving and altering nature of the scenario.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he’s spoken with Moore and Mayor Scott to supply assist following the collapse.
The ship was registered with Singapore and working with 22 crew members on board. The container vessel’s supervisor, Synergy Marine Group, informed Reuters that they’ve all been accounted for.
The vessel skilled a “momentary lack of propulsion” and dropped its anchors as a part of emergency procedures earlier than impression, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore stated in a press release.
“Consequently, it was unable to keep up the specified heading and collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge,” it stated.
The container ship was inbuilt 2015 and the next yr it was concerned in a minor collision with a wall in Antwerp, Belgium, which resulted in vital injury to its hull, in keeping with maritime web sites Shipwreck Log and Vessel Finder.
The incident occurred in good climate and was blamed on a mistake by the grasp and pilot on board, in keeping with Vessel Finder.
The 1.6-mile bridge, which opened in 1977, is known as for the writer of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Key was close to the present location of the bridge as he watched the American flag flying from close by Fort McHenry throughout a British bombardment within the Struggle of 1812, inspiring the poem that turned the track.
The Maryland Transportation Authority stated some 11.3 million automobiles move over the bridge every year.
Mayor Scott stated it was unbelievable to see the Key Bridge tumble, including, “It was like one thing out of an motion film.”