The Dali container vessel after striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge that collapsed into the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, US, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The commuter bridge collapsed after being struck by a container ship, causing vehicles to plunge into the water and halting shipping traffic at one of the most important ports on the US East Coast. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A huge cargo ship caused the accidental collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday (March 26). Now, authorities are working to locate at least six people still missing at the crash site.
According to The New York Times, the cargo ship named Dali was leaving the Port of Baltimore when it lost power. Ship operators issued a mayday call about the situation. This reportedly allowed a small window of time for officials to try to evacuate the Baltimore Bridge.
However, the latest update from NYT states that six construction workers are still missing hours after the crash into one of the bridge’s columns at 1:30 a.m. local time. Apparently, the workers were fixing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when the cargo ship struck it.
The search for the missing workers has continued in the water using divers and in the air using helicopters. Rescuers did manage to save two additional people who fell into the water. Maryland’s Transportation Secretary said that one is in the hospital under “serious condition,” per AP.
Meanwhile, all 24 crew members on the cargo ship were accounted for and suffered no injuries. Additionally, the boat didn’t experience any spills despite the impact. This update came via a statement from the cargo ship’s owner and manager.
Governor Wes Moore said in a press briefing that the mayday call allowed lives to be saved. Furthermore, he anticipates reconstructing the Baltimore bridge will be a “long-term build,” per NYT.
At this time, authorities don’t believe the crash is tied to an act of terrorism, per CBS News. William J. DelBagno, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office, clarified the terrorism talks at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
“There is no specific or credible information to suggest there are ties to terrorism in this incident,” he said.
According to AP, the most recent data about the bridge shows it was in “fair condition” before the crash. The Federal Highway Administration rated it last June, listing its “deck, substructure and superstructure” as “satisfactory.”
In 2019, the Francis Scott Key Bridge held an estimated 30,800 vehicles daily, amounting to about 11.3 million annually. It was built in the 1970s.
As mentioned, the cargo ship Dali crashed into one of the columns, causing it to crumble pretty much all the way across. It was about 1.6 miles long.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
