Six workers are feared dead after a bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred when a massive cargo ship, experiencing a power loss, collided with the structure, leading to the closure of one of the busiest ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
Dive teams faced hazardous conditions as they suspended active search-and-rescue operations about 18 hours after the accident, citing treacherous waters strewn with wreckage. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard stated that due to the frigid water and the elapsed time, there was little hope of finding the missing workers alive.
Authorities, including Maryland State Police Colonel Roland Butler, planned to resume search efforts at sunrise on Wednesday to recover the remains of the workers. The collision occurred around 1:30am (0530 GMT) when the Singapore-flagged container vessel named Dali struck a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a section of the span to collapse into the Patapsco River.
Rescue efforts managed to retrieve two survivors, one of whom was hospitalized. Both survivors and the missing workers were part of a crew working on road maintenance on the bridge.
The vessel, bound for Sri Lanka, reported a power failure before the impact, allowing officials to halt traffic on the bridge and prevent further casualties. Maryland Governor Wes Moore praised the quick actions, stating that lives were saved by preventing cars from crossing the bridge.
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The incident, described by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott as reminiscent of a scene from an action movie, caused the ship to catch fire upon impact, with footage circulating on social media showing the dramatic collision in darkness.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the significant impact of the bridge closure on supply chains, particularly affecting the Port of Baltimore, a crucial hub for automobile cargo. Despite disruptions, companies like General Motors and Ford Motor assured minimal impact on their shipments.
The management company of the Dali, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, reported that the vessel experienced a momentary loss of propulsion and deployed anchors as part of emergency procedures before the collision. All 22 crew members aboard were reported safe.
President Joe Biden pledged federal support for rebuilding the bridge and vowed to visit Baltimore promptly. The National Transportation Safety Board initiated investigations into the incident, with a team of personnel on-site.
The bridge collapse, one of the worst in the U.S. since 2007, raised concerns about infrastructure safety and maritime regulations, especially considering the vessel's history of deficiencies noted in previous inspections.
