Numerous fatalities are feared following the collapse of a significant bridge in Baltimore, USA, caused by a collision with a cargo ship.
The Maryland Transportation Authority announced the incident on social media platform X early on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
“The I-695 Key Bridge has collapsed due to a ship strike,” the MTA stated on social media platform X, referring to the interstate highway.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the Patapsco River route, described as an “active scene.”
Video footage captured a substantial segment of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge plummeting into the Patapsco River after the collision around 1:30 am local time (5:30 am UK time).
The video also showed vehicles descending from the bridge.
According to Baltimore’s fire department, rescue teams are currently searching for a minimum of seven individuals.
Chief Kevin Cartwright, the Director of Communications for the Baltimore City Fire Department, stated that their primary focus is currently on the rescue and recovery of individuals involved.
He mentioned that it is premature to determine the number of people affected but characterized the collapse as an evolving mass casualty incident.
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The MTA earlier reported that interstate lanes were shut in both directions due to an incident on the bridge, leading to traffic rerouting.
A ship monitoring website, MarineTraffic, displayed a Singapore-flagged container ship named Dali stationary under the bridge early on Tuesday.
Both Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. acknowledged the incident, confirming that rescue operations are in progress.
“Please pray for those impacted,” Olszewski urged in a post on X.
