The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, following a collision with a large container ship early Tuesday morning has caused significant disruption and raised serious concerns regarding infrastructure safety and maintenance protocols.
Reports emerged in the early hours of Tuesday, around 1:40 a. m., detailing a catastrophic incident where a significant vessel collided with a column on the central section of the bridge that supports both north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695.
The impact resulted in a devastating fire engulfing the scene, leading to multiple vehicles plummeting into the Patapsco River below. During a news conference, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace described the initial assessment as a “complete collapse” of the Key Bridge structure. Although two individuals were successfully rescued from the water, one suffered severe injuries in this harrowing event.
Authorities have confirmed that various agencies are currently engaged in extensive search and rescue operations utilizing air and water resources, which are projected to persist throughout the day.
Initial reports indicated that “at least seven” vehicles had fallen into the water, but Wallace stated that sonar has detected vehicles in the water, although the exact number cannot be confirmed. Wallace mentioned, “We may be looking for upwards of seven individuals.”
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “This is a dire emergency. Our current focus is on rescuing and recovering these individuals.”
Petty Officer Matthew West reported a Singapore-flagged container ship, “Dali,” crashed into a bridge in Baltimore en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore made a swift decision to declare a state of emergency, as highlighted in a post on Facebook, where he emphasized the urgency of the situation and announced that his office is collaborating with the Biden Administration to expedite the deployment of federal resources. During a press conference following this declaration, Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that there is “absolutely no indication” of any terrorist motive behind the incident.
Furthermore, he mentioned that both the FBI and Coast Guard are actively engaged in communication with the vessel’s crew to gather essential information and ensure proper coordination in handling this critical situation.
Synergy Marine Group, the owner and manager of the ship named the Dali, confirmed that the vessel struck a pillar of the bridge around 1:30 a. m. while under the control of two pilots. The company stated that all crew members, including the pilots, were safe and accounted for, with no reports of injuries.
Maryland Transportation Authority announced on X around 2 a. m. that all lanes in both directions were closed due to an “incident” on the bridge. Later updates indicated that traffic was being redirected to Interstate 95 and Interstate 895.
