BALTIMORE, MD – A catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge along I-695 in Maryland occurred early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into it. The incident, which took place in the Baltimore harbor, triggered a search and rescue mission for individuals who fell into the icy waters.
Around 1:30 a.m., a livestream captured the moment a cargo ship collided with a support beam of the bridge, causing it to crumble and plunge into the Patapsco River. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, but the extent of casualties remains unknown.
Eight workers from a construction crew, who were carrying out routine maintenance work on the bridge, were among those who fell into the water, according to Paul Wiedefeld, secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. Six of these workers are still missing, while two have been rescued. One of the rescued workers is currently hospitalized, and the other declined medical attention.
The exact number of vehicles that plunged into the water and the condition of their occupants remain uncertain, as authorities continue their search and rescue efforts. The U.S. Coast Guard is involved in the operation, searching for any survivors in the water.
The water beneath the bridge, which is approximately 50 feet deep, was around 47 degrees at the time of the collapse. The FBI is investigating the cause of the collision and has ruled out any links to terrorism.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore revealed that the ship’s crew had reported a power issue before the collision. This early warning allowed authorities to restrict water and vehicle traffic around the bridge.
Emergency crews, including the U.S. Coast Guard, local first responders, and the FBI, are searching for potential survivors. Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, described the incident as a mass casualty event.
The cargo ship involved in the incident, the Dali, is a 95,000 GT Singapore-flagged container ship. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed that there were 22 crew members onboard at the time of the incident, all of whom are accounted for and uninjured.
The Synergy Group, the Singapore-based company that manages the Dali, reported no pollution from the incident. The large vessel seemed to have caught fire before becoming disabled, and footage suggests a power failure may have caused the collision.
The Maryland Transportation Authority has closed all lanes in both directions and is diverting traffic. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, named after the author of the American National Anthem, opened in 1977.