Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses After Being Struck By Ship

by Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton

March 26, 2024

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott declared a state of emergency and the Coast Guard has launched a search-and-rescue operation.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, situated in Baltimore, collapsed after being hit by a container ship early March 26.

In response to The Baltimore Solar, the bridge was struck round 1:20 a.m. after the ship hit a assist column. Because the bridge collapsed, seven automobiles reportedly fell into the Patapsco River, prompting authorities to launch a search-and-rescue operation.

The mayor of Baltimore, Brandon M. Scott, has declared a state of emergency.

Baltimore, I’m formally declaring an area state of emergency in response to the collapse of our Key Bridge. Our groups are mobilizing sources and dealing swiftly to handle this disaster and make sure the security and well-being of our neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/x6euk2SocZ

— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) March 26, 2024

CNN reported that two people had been rescued from the Patapsco River, Baltimore Metropolis Fireplace Division Chief James Wallace mentioned at a press convention. One was not injured, however the different particular person was taken to an area trauma heart and is listed in “very critical situation,” he mentioned.

Officers imagine that as many as seven folks haven’t been discovered, and it’s believed that a number of automobiles could have fallen into the river, together with one as massive as a tractor-trailer, in response to Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore Metropolis Fireplace Division.

“We’ve got an unspeakable tragedy,” Scott advised CNN. “There have been people engaged on the bridge on the time. There are automobiles within the water—our fireplace division has confirmed that as they lead this search-and-rescue mission via sonar. That’s the place our focus is—it’s about these souls, these folks we’re looking for and get out of this water.”

The container ship is a 984-foot-long a Singaporean-flagged container vessel often known as a DALI, public affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard’s fifth District, Kimberly Reaves, mentioned. On the time of the accident, there have been building staff doing restore work on the bridge, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld mentioned Tuesday morning. There was no indication of what number of had been current when it occurred.

The ship administration firm Synergy Group mentioned not one of the crew members on the ship had been injured.

In response to WBAL-TV, the state of emergency issued by Scott  will stay in place for 30 days.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was inbuilt 1977. It’s greater than 1.2 miles lengthy, and its primary part spans 1,200 ft. In response to the Nationwide Metal Bridge Alliance, it was one of many longest steady truss bridges on this planet. The bridge has roughly 31,000 automobiles that cross it every day, in response to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The scene is being streamed reside under.