By N’dia Webb, Howard University News Service
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans the Patapsco River in Baltimore, entirely collapsed early Tuesday morning after being struck by a cargo ship that lost power.
According to the Baltimore County Fire Department, a major rescue operation is underway as multiple vehicles fell from the bridge into frigid waters at the time of the collapse.
Kevin Cartwright, spokesperson for Baltimore County Fire, confirmed with WTOP that as many as 20 people and ” at least seven vehicles, including one tractor-trailer-sized vehicle, have collapsed into the water.” However, the total number of vehicles on the bridge at the time is unknown.
Two people have been rescued thus far, with several others still believed to be in the water, according to Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace, in a press conference held near the bridge.
“We’re going to rely on the experts, which are the dive masters that are here, to tell us when they believe we’ve reached that non-survivability point,” Wallace said, explaining that low visibility, temperature and current all play a factor.
Harford County MD Fire & EMS shared on Twitter that volunteer firefighters, the volunteer swift team and Harford County DES Special Operations team are also assisting the Unified Command in the multi-agency search and rescue.
Around 5:45 a.m., Maryland Governor Wes Moore released a statement explaining that his office was in “close contact” with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department.
Fox 5 DC captured video from a live stream camera showing CCTV footage of the incident.
Moore continued by declaring a State of Emergency in Maryland and stating that they are working with an interagency team to “quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.”
Buttigieg said on Twitter that he has spoken with Moore and Scott to offer the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “support” as rescue efforts remain underway.
Buttigieg also advised drivers in the Baltimore area to follow “local responder guidance on detours and response.”
All lanes are closed on the Interstate 695 southeast corridor. Maryland Transportation Authority suggests that drivers take Interstate 95 or Interstate 895 as alternative routes.
“We have to first and foremost pray for all of those who are impacted,” Scott said in a press conference near the bridge. “We’re going to continue to work in partnership with every part of government to do everything we can to get us to the other side of this tragedy.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also tweeted in support of Baltimore, saying that she is in contact with Scott to offer assistance when needed.
According to county and city officials, reports came in at around 1:30 a.m. that a vessel struck a pillar of the Key Bridge, causing the collapse.
Vesselfinder.com identified the ship as the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship. Reuters reports that LSEG ship tracking data shows that Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner, and Synergy Marine Group, the manager, own the ship.
Maersk, a Danish shipping company, was chartering the Dali at the time of the incident and released a statement saying, “We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected.”
This story is breaking and HUNS will continue to update as new information emerges.
