The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, is a tragic event that has sparked a massive search and rescue operation. Video surveillance captured the moment when a cargo ship collided with a support column of the bridge, causing it to collapse and vehicles and people to fall into the river below.
The collapse occurred around 1:30 a.m., plunging the 1.6-mile bridge into the Patapsco River. Search and rescue teams immediately mobilized to find the estimated seven to twenty individuals who were potentially in the water, along with multiple vehicles.
According to Kevin Cartwright, spokesperson for the Baltimore City Fire Department, the incident is being managed as a mass casualty multi-agency incident. The rescue efforts are challenging due to the deep channel port, strong currents, and cold water.
Paul J. Wiedefeld, Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation, noted that there was construction work being conducted on the bridge at the time of the collapse.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed expressed shock at the tragedy, likening it to something out of a movie, and emphasized the importance of preserving life.
Search and rescue operations commenced as soon as daylight broke, with concerns about the challenging conditions in the water.
By 9:00 a.m. EDT, two individuals had been rescued from the water. One person was in critical condition, while the other was reported to be in good condition.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, stated that there were no indications that the crash was intentional.