Maryland’s newly elected Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who many believe harbors ambitions for high office, gained national attention on Tuesday when a container ship toppled off a bridge. He was reacting to the first disaster he had overseen, which left several people dead.
”Our state is in shock this morning, and I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to the people of our state,” Moore, who took office last January, said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
“First responders, I am in awe of you. I am in awe of all of your courage and strength. I’m in awe of everything you’ve done. You, our response teams, have literally, as we speak, rescued the people who are out there, the victims of this collapse. We are doing everything in our power to recover. “Divers are our aviation assets. They are working right now to save lives, and we are doing it because the state asked us to. We are committed to ensuring that the work continues. We will provide information to the public as it progresses.”
Moore was responding to news and footage of a large container ship colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Port of Baltimore on Monday night, sending the bridge crashing into the water.
Search and rescue continues for at least six people after Baltimore bridge collapses
Gov. Wes Moore (left) said at a news conference Tuesday that the state is “shocked and I want to use this opportunity to speak directly to the people of our state.” (Getty Images)
The crew of the Indian-origin cargo ship issued a mayday shortly before the accident, in time for authorities to halt traffic to the bridge, in what authorities called a “mass casualty incident.” The number of vehicles was limited. ”
“We’re grateful that between Mayday and the collapse, authorities began to shut down traffic to prevent more cars from entering the bridge,” Moore said.
Baltimore bridge collapse: Ravens ‘thank’ first responders on scene amid ‘shocking’ incident
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a large bridge spanning the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collided with a large cargo ship and collapsed, causing widespread damage in Maryland with multiple people in the water. Emergency response was taken. (Jasper Colt/USA Today)
In addition to traffic jams, eight construction workers were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, authorities said. It is unclear exactly how many people died in the accident, but at least six people are still missing after two people were rescued from the water.
The debacle comes more than a year after Moore won the Maryland gubernatorial primary with President Biden’s campaign support, defeating Republican Dan Cox by more than 30 points. This will be the first test of his leadership that will attract national attention.
Baltimore Bridge collapses, disrupting trade and traffic
Maryland Governor Wes Moore on February 7, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Moore is widely considered a potential future presidential candidate, with The Washington Post reporting recently reported About his “national buzz” and soaring popularity after a successful gubernatorial campaign that made him the first black governor of the state.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and a Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Moore served as a captain in the U.S. Army before spending time as an investment banker. label yourself “Socially moderate and fiscally strong conservatives.”
in Post to X “We are tough in Maryland. We are strong in Baltimore. In the face of danger, we persevere. In the face of heartbreak, we come together and come back stronger,” Moore said Tuesday. That’s what we’ve always done.” That is what we will continue to do. ”
The bridge collapse has shut down traffic at the Port of Baltimore, one of the nation’s busiest shipping lanes, and is expected to cause major supply chain problems in the future as debris is removed from the site and the bridge is rebuilt. It is expected.
Interstate 695, which passes through the Francis Scott Key Bridge, is also an important link for trucking and automobiles between Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington state. new york And disaster strikes ahead of the upcoming Easter weekend.
The cargo ship Dali sits underwater after colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and collapsing on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Rescuers are still searching for people and two survivors have been pulled from the Patapsco River, according to reports. Workers were repairing a hole in the bridge, which is used by about 30,000 people each day, when the ship struck around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The accident caused the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore, the largest and busiest port on the U.S. East Coast. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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”“I’m grateful to call each and every one of you not just colleagues, but friends,” Moore said at a news conference, “and I’m grateful to the people of Baltimore and to each and every one of the people of June 3.” . To the millions of Marylanders who call our state home, I know that many of you are hurting right now. We want to clarify how everything stands, as we recognize that many of us are feeling scared right now. ”
Moore continued: “We are still investigating what happened, but we are quickly gathering details. Preliminary investigation points to an accident. No credible evidence of a terrorist attack has been found. The Administration is working closely with leaders at all levels to ensure that governments and societies are able to emerge from this crisis not only by addressing its immediate aftermath, but also by building more resilient and safer nations. It is our pledge, our commitment to respond, and we remain committed to keeping that promise.”
