Baltimore bridge collapse: Everything we know about the disaster
A big bridge crumbled in Baltimore, USA following a collision with a cargo ship that was about 289 meters long.
At the start of Tuesday morning, a catastrophic event occurred resulting in two people being saved from the water. However, six individuals are still unaccounted for and are considered missing.
This is all the information we currently have about the occurrence.
During the early morning hours at around 1:30am local time (5:30am UK time), a container ship by the name of Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge that spans 1.6 miles. As a result of the collision, a significant portion of the bridge crumbled and fell into the water.
The ship hit a pillar of the bridge, resulting in the complete destruction of the construction. This incident led to the roadway and metal bars plunging into the nearby water.
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The inquiry into the incident is being spearheaded by the National Transportation Safety Board, and Jennifer Homendy, who is the chairperson of the organization, has shared that about six individuals have yet to be located.
Initially, there were eight people whose whereabouts were unknown. One of them was in a critical condition and receiving medical treatment, while the other person escaped unharmed.
It is said by the Maryland Department of Transportation that the six individuals who are not found were supposedly working with a building team who was mending the potholes on the bridge.
All of the 22 members who were working on the ship, even the two individuals who were responsible for its operation, have been found and confirmed to be safe without any cases of harm.
Discover more: Biden assures he will come to Baltimore 'very soon' The collapse of a critical port is causing significant ramifications There are two potential reasons for the disaster.
What can be seen in the video?
An intense footage displays the cargo ship nearing the bridge, resulting in the structure collapsing into the water.
Cars can be observed plummeting from the bridge.
The Baltimore fire department's communication chief, Kevin Cartwright, did not provide a specific number, but he mentioned that there were several vehicles present on the bridge when the ship hit it. Among them was a vehicle that was as big as a heavy goods vehicle.
During a press briefing following the ship's collapse, President Joe Biden stated that the crew members were able to inform the Maryland Department of Transportation about the loss of control of their vessel.
According to Mr. Biden, this action has definitely saved lives because the officials in charge were able to shut down the bridge before it could be hit.
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What occurred prior to the collision?
Based on the CCTV footage and tracking information from marine technology, it seems that the container ship experienced a loss of power for approximately one minute just four minutes prior to colliding with the bridge. Following the power failure, the vessel appeared to alter its course and emit smoke before ultimately making contact with the bridge.
The CCTV footage shows that the ship collided with the structure precisely at 1:28:44am, and after only four seconds, the bridge collapsed.
The people responsible for running the Dali cargo ship sent out an urgent signal that the ship had lost power just before the collision. Despite this, the ship continued to move toward the bridge at an extremely high rate of speed, as reported by Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
According to the governor's statement, the vessel collided with the structure while traveling at a speed of eight knots, which is approximately equivalent to 9 miles per hour.
What information do we have about the vessel?
The Dali, a container ship flying the flag of Singapore, was en route to the Sri Lankan city of Colombo when the crash occurred.
The ship was under the direction of two pilots when it collided with the bridge, as reported by Synergy Marine Group, the company in charge of managing the vessel.
The company stated that the specific reason for the occurrence was still unknown.
According to the websites Vessel Finder and Shipwrecklog, there was a small accident involving the Dali ship in 2016 when it collided with a pier at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.
In June of last year, there was an examination of the Dali at a Chilean harbor that revealed an issue with the vessel's "propulsion and auxiliary machinery", as stated by Equasis, a system that provides information on shipping.
The shortage concerned measuring instruments such as gauges and thermometers, yet the online documents on the website did not provide more details.
A new review was carried out on the Dali by the US Coast Guard in New York on September 13, 2023. According to the information on Equasis, the inspection categorized as a "standard examination" did not uncover any shortcomings.
What information do we have concerning the bridge in question?
In June of the past year, government inspectors assessed the bridge that has been standing for 47 years and deemed it to be in satisfactory condition. However, specialists stated that the framework seemed to lack pier safeguarding to endure an accident.
Virginia Tech's engineering professor, Roberto Leon, explains that a bridge pier that is not adequately protected stands no chance against a large ship collision. The bridge holds no safety measures to withstand the impact.
Constructed in 1977 and known in the surrounding area as the Key Bridge, its official title honors the writer behind the United States' national song.
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What could be the consequences of this crash?
The Port of Baltimore is open to trucks, but all ship traffic has been halted until more information is given. Maryland Transportation Secretary, Paul Wiedefeld, made the announcement.
According to the government, the port managed to handle a remarkable 52.3 million tons of foreign items valued at $80 billion (£63 billion) last year. The port wasn't just for cargo, as over 444,000 passengers fled from the port in 2023.
The sea port on the east coast is a primary hub for shipping purposes. To reach the Chesapeake Bay and consequently, the Atlantic Ocean, large cargo ships cross the Patapsco River using this bridge.
According to Marine Traffic's information, the ship called Dali was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, while carrying a flag from Singapore.
Biden confirmed he will make a trip to Baltimore as soon as possible and stated his belief that the government should cover the entirety of the expenses for repairing the bridge.
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Did this ever occur previously?
Between 1960 and 2015, 35 significant bridge failures happened globally as a result of vessels or barges hitting them. Sadly, the accidents resulted in 342 fatalities. This data was gathered and presented by the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure in their report released in 2018.
There were a total of 18 collapses that occurred in the United States.
There was an event in 2002 where a barge hit the Interstate 40 bridge that crosses the Arkansas River in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. This unfortunate incident led to some cars falling into the water, resulting in 14 people losing their lives and 11 people getting hurt.
Back in 2001, there was a collision between a tugboat and a barge which hit the Queen Isabella Causeway located in Port Isabel, Texas. As a result, a part of the bridge fell 80 feet down into the bay beneath. This unfortunate incident claimed the lives of eight people.
Back in 1993, there was a collision between barges that were being pushed by a towboat while there was dense fog. This collision caused the displacement of the railroad bridge situated near Big Bayou Canot around Mobile, Alabama.
After a few moments, an Amtrak train carrying 220 individuals approached the moved bridge and lost its rails, causing the death of 47 individuals and injuring another 103.
