March 26th 2024.
In the early hours of March 26, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore suffered a tragic collapse after being struck by a container ship. The incident, which occurred at around 1:20 a.m., was reported by The Baltimore Sun. It was revealed that the ship had hit one of the support columns of the bridge, causing it to crumble. As a result, seven cars were plunged into the Patapsco River, prompting authorities to quickly launch a search-and-rescue operation.
The Mayor of Baltimore, Brandon M. Scott, wasted no time in declaring a state of emergency in response to this devastating event. In a statement, he expressed his concern for the safety and well-being of the community and assured everyone that the city's teams were mobilizing resources and working diligently to address this crisis.
According to CNN, the Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace confirmed at a press conference that two individuals had been rescued from the river. One of them was lucky enough to escape unscathed, but the other was in a serious condition and had to be taken to a nearby trauma center. Sadly, there are still believed to be seven people who have not been found. Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore City Fire Department, also revealed that there may be more vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, submerged in the water.
In an emotional interview with CNN, Mayor Scott described the situation as an "unspeakable tragedy." He revealed that there were workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse and that the fire department was using sonar to search for them and any other potential victims. The Mayor emphasized that their main focus was on finding and rescuing these individuals.
The container ship involved in the accident was identified as a 984-foot-long Singaporean-flagged vessel called the DALI, according to Kimberly Reaves, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard's 5th District. It was also reported that there were construction workers on the bridge carrying out repair work at the time of the incident, as confirmed by Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld during a press conference on Tuesday morning. However, there is no information on how many workers were present at the time of the collision.
Fortunately, the ship management company, Synergy Group, confirmed that none of the crew members on the vessel were injured. Despite this, the tragic event has caused chaos and devastation, leading to Mayor Scott issuing a 30-day state of emergency, as reported by WBAL-TV.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge has been a significant landmark in Baltimore since it was built in 1977. The bridge is over 1.2 miles long, with its main section spanning 1,200 feet. According to the National Steel Bridge Alliance, it was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world. On a daily basis, an estimated 31,000 vehicles cross the bridge, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. The scene of the collapse is currently being live-streamed for the public to witness the aftermath of this tragic accident.
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