Pittsburgh authorities closed several bridges late Friday after more than 20 barges broke loose and drifted out of control down the Ohio River, some plunging into local dams.
Around 11:30 p.m., authorities responded to 26 barges moving downstream. City officials said three of the barges were empty and 23 were carrying cargo such as coal, but no hazardous materials.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. J.G. Eyob Mills told USA TODAY that one barge had not been located as of Saturday morning. He said there were no reports of barges hitting the bridge and there was no pollution.
City officials said no injuries were reported, but Peggy's Harbor on the north bank of the Ohio River suffered significant damage.
Officials closed the West End Bridge just west of downtown Pittsburgh and the railroad bridge to Blue Knot Island. City officials said in a news release that they will reopen the bridge when it is safe to do so. Further west, the McKees Rocks Bridge was temporarily closed as a precaution and reopened Saturday morning.
“They may or may not come into contact with the substructure, but we don't want to take any risks,” the McKee's Rocks Police Department said in a social media post.
Bridge integrity:The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a Baltimore icon. Compare it to other U.S. bridges.
Barge accident occurred weeks after Baltimore bridge collapse
The bridge closure comes just over two weeks after a large cargo ship lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, causing it to collapse. The bridge collapse raised concerns about the safety of other bridges in the United States. Pittsburgh is a historically industrial Pennsylvania city known for its iconic bridges spanning the city and several rivers surrounding it.
So far, 11 barges have been located on the riverbank near Bruno Island and being towed away by tugboats, city officials said. 14 people continued downstream.
Nine people crossed Emsworth Dam, about four miles downstream from Bruno Island. Four of them crossed Dashiell's Dam, about 11 miles from Emsworth Dam.
Pittsburgh officials said the barge is owned or operated by Campbell Transportation Company, which is located just downstream along the Ohio River from the McKees Rocks Bridge. His calls and messages to the company Saturday morning were not immediately returned.
Late Friday night, the National Weather Service extended a flood warning for the Ohio River near Pittsburgh. Around midnight, the river level reached 25 feet above flood stage.
It is still unclear why the barge came loose. The Coast Guard said it continues to prioritize missing vessels.