In Baltimore, USA, a significant bridge suffered near-total collapse on Tuesday when it was struck by a container ship. The impact caused several vehicles and as many as 20 people to plummet into the harbor below. The incident has raised serious concerns about infrastructure safety and emergency response.
In a dramatic scene, a 300-meter vessel collided with a footing of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The impact caused the steel-built structure to plunge into the Patapsco River below.
The force of the collision and subsequent collapse has left the city in shock and raised urgent questions about infrastructure safety.
As the bridge buckled and fractured, vehicle lights flickered on the road surface. The third segment of the bridge jutted upward, defying gravity for a moment before succumbing to the inevitable, plunging into the water below.
Video: US Bridge Collapses After Ship Collision, Vehicles, People Fall In Waterhttps://t.co/uVQI5dJoRc#USbridge #BridgeCollapse #bridgeconstruction #ship #vehicle #watersafety #usnews #usanewstoday #usanews pic.twitter.com/o21X61o9ta
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Amidst the chaos, small explosions punctuated the rapid collapse, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s skyline.
“Unfortunately, we understand that there were up to 20 individuals who may be in the Patapsco River right now as well as multiple vehicles,” Kevin Cartwright of the Baltimore Fire Department told CNN. “So we have… a mass-casualty multi-agency incident underway.”
“We understand that there could have potentially been a vehicle, a tractor trailer or a vehicle as large as a tractor trailer on the bridge at the time that it collapsed.”
In the moments preceding the collision, the ship’s silhouette flickered, plunging into darkness twice. Thick, black smoke billowed from its funnel, a telltale sign of engine activity. The ship, once a behemoth of steel and power, now bore the weight of impending disaster.
As the clock struck 1:30 am (0530 GMT), chaos erupted. Emergency responders swarmed the shoreline, their vehicles forming a protective barrier against the unfolding tragedy.
Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Cargo Ship Collision, Rescue Operations Underway
A shocking incident unfolded in the US city of Baltimore as a bridge collapsed entirely into the Patapsco River after being struck by a container ship, resulting in a potentially catastrophic… pic.twitter.com/Z18erCFxIY
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Divers were submerged in the water, diligently searching for survivors, as reported by Cartwright. According to CNN, the water temperatures hovered around 48 Fahrenheit (8.8 Celsius), which posed challenges for the search and rescue operations. The narrow window of survivability for anyone in the water added urgency to their efforts.
Divers were submerged in the water, diligently searching for survivors, as reported by Cartwright. According to CNN, the water temperatures hovered around 48 Fahrenheit (8.8 Celsius), which posed challenges for the search and rescue operations.
“We were awakened by what appeared to be an earthquake and a long, rolling sound of thunder,” he told local media.
“I saw some emergency lights in the area and decided to drive up… what was in progress was a multi-jurisdictional response to a disaster.”
The 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer), four-lane bridge stretches across the Patapsco River to the southwest of Baltimore. Constructed in 1977, this vital artery accommodates over 11 million vehicles annually, approximately 31,000 per day.
It plays a crucial role in the extensive road network surrounding Baltimore, an industrial city situated on the US East Coast, adjacent to the nation’s capital, Washington.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has issued a warning to drivers, urging them to steer clear of the I-695 southeast corridor due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. This major bridge, which spans the Patapsco River, was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship named the Dali during the early hours of Tuesday.
The impact caused a significant portion of the bridge to crumple and plunge into the water below. Authorities suspect that several people may be in the river as a result of the collapse.
The ship is managed by Synergy Marine Group, and thankfully, all crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for with no reported injuries.
“Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘Dali’ has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service,” it says.