BALTIMORE (AP) — A container ship crashed into a major Baltimore bridge early Tuesday, breaking in several places and falling into the river below. Several vehicles plunged into the frigid waters and rescuers were initially searching for at least seven people.
Two people were pulled from the water under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one in critical condition, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said.
According to a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), the cargo ship appears to have collided with one of the bridge's supports late at night, when traffic is expected to be light. The ship caught fire and thick black smoke rose.
“I never imagined I would physically see the Key Bridge collapse like that. It was like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. “It's a tragedy.”
The fire chief said authorities “may be searching for more than seven people,” but that number could change. It is unclear whether the two rescued people are among the seven.
Temperatures early Tuesday were around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius), and sonar showed the vehicle in the water. According to buoy Collects data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Earlier, Kevin Cartwright, director of public affairs for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press that there were several vehicles on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck. said.
He called the collapse an “ongoing mass casualty event” but did not know how many people were affected at the time.
Cartwright added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from a bridge spanning the Patapsco River at the entrance to the busy port. The river connects to the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named after the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to commit federal resources to the state. The FBI was also on the scene.
Synergy Marine Group, which owns and manages the vessel called Dali, confirmed that the vessel, which was being operated by two pilots, collided with a bridge pillar at around 1:30 a.m. All crew members, including the pilot, were confirmed safe and there were no reports of injuries.
From a vantage point near the bridge entrance, the jagged remains of the bridge's steel frame could be seen poking out of the water, and the ascent ended abruptly where the span once began.
According to Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder, the ship, called Dali, was heading from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its final destination. The ship was flying the Singaporean flag, WTOP radio station reported, citing Petty Officer Matthew West of the Baltimore Coast Guard.
In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a downtown Baltimore tunnel and caught fire, sending plumes of black smoke into the air and forcing authorities to temporarily close all major roads leading into the city. Ta.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that the ship does not appear to have sunk.
