Six workers are feared dead after a bridge collapsed in Baltimore Harbor early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred when a massive cargo ship experiencing a loss of power hit the structure, leading to the closure of one of the busiest ports on the US East Coast.
Dive teams faced dangerous conditions when they suspended active search and rescue operations about 18 hours after the accident, citing treacherous debris-strewn waters. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard said there was little hope of finding the missing workers alive because of the frigid water and the time that had passed.
Authorities, including Maryland State Police Col. Roland Butler, planned to resume the search at sunrise Wednesday to recover the remains of the workers. The collision occurred around 01:30 (0530 GMT) when a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Dali hit a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing part of the span to collapse into the Patapsco River.
Rescuers managed to free two survivors, one of whom was hospitalized. Both the survivors and the missing workers were part of a road maintenance crew on the bridge.
The Sri Lanka-bound vessel reported a power outage before impact, allowing officials to shut down traffic on the bridge to prevent further casualties. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised the quick actions, saying lives were saved by preventing cars from crossing the bridge.
The incident, which Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott described as reminiscent of a scene from an action movie, caused the ship to burst into flames after impact, with footage circulating on social media showing the dramatic collision in the dark.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the significant impact of the bridge closure on supply chains, particularly the Port of Baltimore, a key hub for automobile cargo. Despite the outages, companies such as General Motors and Ford Motor have ensured minimal impact on their shipments.
Dali’s management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, said the vessel experienced a momentary loss of propulsion and deployed anchors as part of emergency procedures before the collision. All 22 crew members on board were reported safe.
President Joe Biden pledged federal support for the bridge’s reconstruction and promised to make an expedited visit to Baltimore. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the incident with a team of personnel on site.
The bridge collapse, one of the worst in the US since 2007, has raised concerns about infrastructure safety and maritime regulations, particularly given the vessel’s history of deficiencies noted in previous inspections.
