Baltimore bridge collapses after ship strikes it, rescuers search for several people
CBC
A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, leading to a search for several people.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said at a mid-morning news conference that six people were unaccounted for after the incident at Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The U.S. Coast Guard said multiple crews and boats are searching for survivors.
Chief James Wallace of the Baltimore Fire Department, at an earlier press availability, said divers, as well as sonar and infrared technologies, are being utilized in the search. Sonar has detected the presence of vehicles below the water's surface, he said.
The temperature in the river was about 8 C in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Wiedefeld confirmed reports of workers being on the bridge at the time of the collapse engaged in pothole repair, not structural issues with the bridge. He said it was too soon to tell how long the busy Port of Baltimore, a major transit for shipping on the East Coast, would be closed.
Officials said two people were rescued from the water — one who didn't require medical attention and another person who was transported to a local hospital.
It is not believed that any vehicles were driving on that stretch of the bridge when it collapsed, they said.
According to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, that was attributable to the ship's crew issuing a mayday call, which allowed transportation officials to halt traffic on the bridge.
Agencies received emergency calls around 1:40 a.m. ET reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Wallace said there's no indication of a fuel spill, though an odour of diesel has been detected.
Cartwright said some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the port is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
The ship caught fire for a time, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.
The Dali ship was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 300 metres long and about 48 metres wide, according to the website.
Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the Dali — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.
