A major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, partially collapsed on Tuesday morning, leaving scores of people possibly stranded in the river below, authorities said.
The incident occurred on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a large steel structure that spans Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area, a Baltimore Police Department spokesperson told NBC News. He said he had received a report.
“At 1:35 a.m., we can confirm that the Baltimore Police Department received a report of a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing, with workers possibly in the water.''・Detective Fennoy said in a statement.
Baltimore Fire Department Battalion Chief Glenn Kukucka told CNBC by phone that a large container ship crashed into the bridge overnight and that there appeared to be personnel at the crossing at the time of the incident. He added that the vessel involved in the collision appeared to have sustained damage.
Images posted on social media early Tuesday showed the remains of the destroyed bridge sticking out of the river in the twilight of dawn.
The Maryland Department of Transportation confirmed that Interstate 695 was closed due to the collapse of the Key Bridge due to a “vessel collision.”
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. told X that he is aware of the incident and has been in contact with the fire chief, Baltimore mayor and other local officials. “Please pray for those affected,” he said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott Said At X he was on his way to the bridge. He said: “Paramedics have arrived at the scene and a response is underway.”
NBC News has contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency response agencies for more information.
Built in 1977, it was locally known as the Key Bridge and later named after the author of the American national anthem. The bridge is over 8,500 feet (1.2 miles) long. According to the National Steel Bridge Alliance, its main section spans 1,200 feet, making it one of the world's longest continuous truss bridges when completed.
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