Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses after being hit by cargo ship
View: Scene in which bridge crumbles following ship collision
The famous Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, USA has crumbled after getting struck by a ship.
Many cars were traveling over the long bridge, measuring over 2.6km (1.6 miles), at the time when the cargo ship crashed into one of its pillars.
According to officials, they assume that there are seven individuals in the water and several cars can be identified under the water's surface.
Vessels and choppers are involved in the operation to locate and rescue individuals in distress.
At 01:30 in the morning according to local time (05:30 Greenwich Mean Time), the 47-year-old bridge experienced a collapse after being hit by the container ship named Dali, which bore the flag of Singapore. The ship collided with a support column.
The plane left the Port Breeze station at approximately 12:45 a.m. on its way to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
According to a federal government agency in the United States, the ship experienced a failure in its propulsion system when departing from the harbor.
As per an uncategorized report on the occurrence, the team cautioned Maryland vehicle authorities about the likelihood of a collision.
The huge cargo vessel named Dali collided with a support structure of the bridge.
Several automobiles, which includes a large vehicle comparable to a tractor-trailer, dropped into the body of water below, according to authorities.
The Baltimore fire department, the US Coastguard, and other Maryland state agencies are leading a significant effort to rescue those in need.
The Fire Chief of Baltimore, James Wallace, verified that two individuals were saved from a dangerous situation. One of them was sent to a nearby medical facility due to their severe state.
According to Mr. Wallace, the rescue operation was faced with the difficulty of the tide. The freezing weather conditions were also a major concern for the local officials as the air temperature near the bridge was recorded at approximately 3C (37.4F).
The mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, has referred to the event as an "inconceivable catastrophe." He stated that the primary concern at this moment is the safety of individuals involved, highlighting that there are individuals currently stranded in the water that urgently require rescuing. Mayor Scott emphasized that this must be the main point of discussion.
The BBC was informed by the Synergy Marine Group that the vessel was staffed with a team of 22 individuals who were all of Indian nationality.
According to a statement, every member of the crew, including two harbour pilots, have been confirmed as safe and there have been no indications of any harm.
The reason for the occurrence hasn't been confirmed yet and the owner of the ship is giving complete assistance to government organizations, as stated in the communication.
The shipping company Maersk proclaimed that they had rented the ship and were transporting merchandise owned by their clients.
A statement expressed great shock regarding the situation in Baltimore and wished the best for everyone impacted. The ship from Maersk did not have any of its crew or workers present during the incident.
The White House stated that they were keeping a close eye on the situation and that important officials from the administration were communicating with the governor of Maryland and the mayor of Baltimore to provide any necessary federal aid. They also made it clear there was no evidence of any malicious motives behind the crash.
