A state of emergency was declared early Tuesday morning in Maryland, USA, after a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The ship, en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, departed from the Baltimore port at 12:45 am local time. However, minutes before 1:30 am, the container ship Dali lost all power, leading to a devastating collision with the famous bridge.
Thankfully, none of the 22 crew members aboard the ship were injured. However, rescue services reported that several vehicles and numerous individuals had fallen into the Patapsco River as a result of the collision.
The Baltimore City Fire Department declared a ‘mass casualty event’ as they work to determine the number of people who were on the bridge at the time of the accident. Among them were eight construction workers repairing potholes on the bridge.
Despite the tragedy, two individuals who fell into the icy waters have been rescued, while searches for other potential victims continue.
Live footage captured the immediate aftermath of the collision, with witnesses sharing their shock at the scene. However, the situation could have been far worse if not for the heroic efforts of workers who closed the bridge in advance.
The container ship, attempting to depart the harbor, struck a column of the 1.6-mile bridge, resulting in lights flickering and then shutting down before the collision. Crew members and pilots onboard responded to multiple alarms as the ship approached the bridge after experiencing motor failure.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore praised the quick action of transport officials who halted traffic over the bridge following the mayday alert, acknowledging their role in saving lives.
The technical manager for the Singapore cargo ship, Synergy Marine Group, stated that they are working with government agencies to determine the cause of the collision.
Named after the poet who wrote the US national anthem, the Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977 and served as a major thoroughfare, with millions of vehicles crossing it annually.
The closure of the Helen Delich Bentley Port is expected to last for some time as authorities search for debris from the damaged bridge.
US President Joe Biden addressed the situation, pledging support for the affected workers and vowing to see the port reopened and the bridge rebuilt.
