The President of Mexico, Claudia Sinbaum, expressed sorrow over the tragic death of two crew members from a tall navy ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to report the loss of two Cuauhtémoc training vessel crew members in an unfortunate incident at New York Port,” Sinbaum mentioned in a post on X. “Our thoughts are with their families, and we extend our deepest sympathy.”
Sinbaum, who became Mexico’s first female president last June, noted that at least 17 others sustained injuries during the accident and received care from the Mexican Navy, with assistance from city officials in New York.
The incident occurred when the Cuauhtémoc, which primarily has cadets on board, struck the historic 141-year-old bridge around 8:30 PM on Saturday.
A witness described a worrying scene, noting that the ship’s 147-foot mast collided with the bridge.
As a result of the crash, two crew members positioned on the mast fell abruptly onto the deck and sadly died shortly after arriving at a local hospital.
The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed as of Saturday night. A Mexican news outlet reported that the navy is in contact with their families.
Sinbaum praised the swift actions of local leaders in New York during this tragic event.
“We are grateful for the immediate assistance New York Mayor Eric Adams has provided to those impacted. Our focus is on ongoing coordination, and the Navy will keep us updated,” she commented.
Adams expressed gratitude toward paramedics who quickly responded to the scene to aid the injured.
“We are sending prayers to everyone on board and their families and are thankful for the first responders’ rapid actions. I assure you that the situation could’ve been worse,” he stated on X.
Adams later confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge itself was undamaged and reopened to the public later that night.
Despite reports of crew members falling, responders later clarified that no one was in the water.
The ship is currently inoperative and submerged, while emergency personnel are attending to the injured at Pier 16. Reports indicate that it is expected to be moved to Pier 36.
The Cuauhtémoc, designed in Spain in 1982 for training purposes, was in New York to participate in promoting the upcoming Sail4th Tall Ship event, which celebrates America’s 250th anniversary.
This stop marks the third leg of an eight-month global voyage, allowing Mexican cadets to experience diverse sailing conditions in locales like Jamaica, Iceland, and Portugal.
