James Myers of OAN
8:34 AM – Tuesday, March 26, 2024
A container ship crashed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, causing it to snap and fall into the river. Several vehicles fell into the water as rescue teams began searching for survivors in search and rescue operations.
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It is unclear how many workers were on the bridge at the time of the disaster, and emergency services said they were searching for at least seven of the missing. Two people have now been rescued from the sea, but it is unclear how many more are submerged in the cold waters of the busy port.
The cargo ship hit one of the bridge supports, snapping the structure like a twig. It fell into the water within seconds and the shocking scene was captured on video and posted across social media. The ship then caught fire and thick black smoke began coming out of the ship.
“I never imagined I would physically see the Key Bridge collapse like that. It was like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D-Md.). ) called it an “unthinkable tragedy.”
One person rescued from the water was in good health but refused medical treatment. The other person suffered serious injuries and was being treated at a trauma center, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said at a news conference at the scene.
Wallace said underwater drones and sonar showed several cars were in the river.
“At this time, we remain in an active search and rescue position,” Wallace said. Rescue workers plan to search the water, the river and the ship’s deck.
In addition, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.) declared a state of emergency and said he was working to mobilize federal resources.
Additionally, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said all vessel traffic to and from the port will be suspended until further notice, but the facility will be open to trucks.
According to data from maritime traffic, Dali departed from Baltimore for Colombo, Sri Lanka, flying under the Singaporean flag. The container ship is estimated to be 985 feet long and 157 feet wide.
The bridge is over 2 miles long, or 8,500 feet. The main section is 1,200 feet long and, upon completion, is considered one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world. National Steel Bridge Alliance.
The bridge is used every day, with nearly 31,000 vehicles using the bridge per day and up to 11.3 million vehicles per year, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.
Both the river and the Port of Baltimore are key to the shipping industry, generating more than $3.3 billion annually and directly employing more than 15,000 people.
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