A significant bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a ship, leading to people falling into the water

Rescue teams were searching for survivors after a ship hit a pillar supporting a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River.

A major bridge in Baltimore, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, collapsed on Tuesday morning after being struck by a container ship. According to Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James W. Wallace, up to seven people may have fallen into the water following the crash. Two individuals have been rescued, one of whom is in serious condition and has been transported to a trauma center.

This bridge carries Interstate 695 across the Patapsco River, southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area. The collision occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. ET while contractors were working on the bridge, as stated by Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland’s transportation secretary. Wiedefeld described the incident as an ongoing search and rescue mission, leading to the suspension of vessel traffic at the Port of Baltimore until further notice.

Chief Wallace emphasized the significant nature of this incident, necessitating a large-scale response. Sonar scans have identified submerged vehicles, but the exact number cannot be confirmed. Chief Wallace reported that the ship’s crew remains on board, pending a damage assessment of the vessel. He stated that there is no indication of terrorism or intentional action. The bridge, completed in 1977, was named after Francis Scott Key, the poet who wrote the U.S. national anthem. The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the vessel involved in the collision as the 948-ft DALI vessel.

Response boats and pollution responders are en route to the scene. The ship is under the management of Synergy Marine Group, which has confirmed the safety of all 22 crew members, including two pilots. The exact cause of the incident is unknown at this time, but the vessel has activated its Qualified Individual Incident response service. The ship was heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to marine traffic data. Maersk has confirmed chartering the vessel and stated that there are no Maersk crew members onboard. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore expressed in a statement that it “will fully cooperate with the US Coast Guard in their investigations.”

State of emergency

Emergency personnel are still present at the scene following the bridge collapse, according to the office of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

“I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland, and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” stated the governor.

“We will maintain close contact with federal, state, and local organizations involved in the rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragic event.”

‘A long road ahead’

Originally constructed in 1977 and commonly known as the Key Bridge, the structure was later dedicated to the author of the American national anthem.

The bridge measures over 8,500 feet (1.2 miles) in length. Its main section spans 1,200 feet and was considered one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, approximately 31,000 vehicles use the bridge daily, resulting in 11.3 million vehicles per year.

The river and the Port of Baltimore are both crucial to the shipping industry on the East Coast, contributing over $3.3 billion annually and employing over 15,000 individuals.

When asked about the future for Baltimore residents, the state’s transportation secretary commented that it is too early to determine.

“Obviously, we have reached out to several engineering companies, so we have a significant journey ahead of us,” explained Wiedefeld.