Mar. 26 2024, Revealed 8:00 a.m. ET
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed on Tuesday morning after being struck by a container ship, RadarOnline.com can report.
The collapse reportedly occurred when a Singapore-based vessel, Dali, crashed into the central a part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at roughly 1:40 AM.
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Startling footage captured the bridge crumbling into the Patapsco River, with a number of automobiles – together with one the scale of a tractor-trailer truck – plunging down into the water under.
The ship additionally caught hearth, including to the chaos as thick, black smoke billowed throughout the busy harbor.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott expressed disbelief on the scene. He described the tragedy as an “unthinkable tragedy.”
“That is an unthinkable tragedy,” Mayor Scott mentioned shortly after 6 AM on Tuesday morning. “By no means would you assume that you might see, bodily see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It regarded like one thing out of an motion film.”
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Emergency responders, together with the Baltimore Metropolis Hearth Division and the US Coast Guard, sprang into motion. A state of emergency was declared and rescue efforts had been rapidly initiated.
The impression of the devastating collision reportedly precipitated the metal arches of the bridge to break down into the Patapsco River – disrupting the circulation of site visitors and inflicting what the Baltimore Metropolis Hearth Division has since described as a “mass casualty incident.”
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The sequence of occasions was captured on digital camera, with footage displaying the bridge disintegrating after the vessel collided with it.
The aftermath of the crash left a number of automobiles submerged within the water, triggering a race in opposition to time for rescue groups to find and help these in misery.
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No less than two individuals had been discovered within the water – with one in important situation – as emergency responders continued their search efforts. A number of others believed to be on the bridge on the time of its collapse had been nonetheless reportedly lacking a number of hours after the incident.
In the meantime, the White Home confirmed that it was “intently monitoring” the state of affairs and has up to now has seen “no indication of any nefarious intent.”
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“Our hearts exit to the households of those that stay lacking because of this horrific incident,” one official mentioned on Tuesday morning. “The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for many who stay unaccounted for because of the bridge collapse.”
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg additionally confirmed that he was in communication with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
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“I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to supply USDOT’s assist following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge,” Buttigieg mentioned at 3 AM.
“Rescue efforts stay underway and drivers within the Baltimore space ought to observe native responder steerage on detours and response,” he added.