BALTIMORE – A catastrophic incident occurred Tuesday morning when the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major roadway across the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed due to a boat collision. The tragic incident caused several vehicles to plunge into the cold waters of the Patapsco River, prompting a massive rescue effort by local authorities.
The quick response of the Baltimore Fire Department and the deployment of dive teams allowed the extraction of eight people so far, including the crew members of the freighter Dali and two civilians. However, one of those rescued is in critical condition.
The vessel responsible for the collision is the Dali, a Singapore-registered ship carrying cargo at the time of impact. A video shared on social media shows the moment it collided with the bridge structure, causing its collapse and a fire on board.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a 30-day state of emergency. Officials have warned that the closure of the Key Bridge will have a significant impact on transportation in the city and are urging people to plan their commute accordingly. In the meantime, the search for missing persons continues and the public’s cooperation is requested to stay away from the area to facilitate a quick and safe rescue.