Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after collision, two people rescued from water

A bridge in the American city of Baltimore collapsed after a cargo ship collided with it. This is the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a steel bridge of approximately 2,500 meters long.

Baltimore’s fire chief said in a news conference that two people were rescued from the water after the bridge collapsed. One of them was seriously injured.

The collision took place around 1:30 am local time (6:30 am Dutch time). Images show that the ship collides with a pier, causing large bridge sections to immediately collapse into the water.

It is not clear how many people are still in the water. Maryland’s transportation secretary said at a news conference that an unknown number of workers were making repairs to the bridge’s concrete deck when it collapsed. The mayor also spoke during the press conference:

Rescue services previously said that at least seven to as many as twenty people were being sought. At least seven vehicles are said to have fallen into the water. Divers, among others, are looking for people.

A spokesperson for the fire brigade in Baltimore tells American media that rescue work is made more difficult because it is unsafe on the largely collapsed bridge.

He said he cannot yet say anything about the number of victims, but he expects that several people did not survive the accident.

The extent of the damage is clearly visible in daylight:

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency. “We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration,” Moore said on X.

Traffic that was supposed to cross the bridge is now being diverted through tunnels, the local transport authority says. Road users transporting hazardous materials must take detours via roads in the area.

The cargo ship that collided with the pier is a ship named Dali that flies the flag of Singapore, shipping records show. The Dali’s destination was Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

11.5 million vehicles

The ship had two pilots (specialists who assist the captain with navigation in a specific area) on board when the accident happened. They were unharmed after the accident, just like the rest of the crew. All crew are still on board the ship and are in contact with the Coast Guard.

It is not clear why the ship hit the pier. The owners and managers of the ship said in a statement that they are cooperating with the investigation into the collision.

The bridge opened in 1977 and connects the banks of the Patapsco River. About 11.5 million vehicles per year cross the Key Bridge, as it is called in the city.