According to the fire brigade, the search will take some time, because a large area has to be searched. Helicopters and divers are present to search for the missing. The fire brigade previously said it was still looking for up to twenty people.
The spokesperson emphasizes that the number of seven missing people is based on the information currently available and that that number might still change. The situation is extra dangerous because the water is currently very cold, the temperature is around five degrees Celsius.
More than 2.5 kilometers
The 290 meter long container ship caught just following the collision flame, reports local news channel Wtop News. It concerns a ship that sailed under the flag of Singapore. The company behind it has said that the entire crew was unharmed. The collision took place around 1:30 am local time (6:30 am Dutch time).
It concerns the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the bridge was over 2.5 kilometers long and led traffic over the Patapsco River. ABC News reports that all because of to and from the bridge are closed.
According to the fire brigade, several vehicles ended up in the river, including possibly a truck. Construction workers working on the bridge are believed to be among the missing. Helicopters are used in the search for missing people. The emergency services are also on site with diving teams. The fire brigade hopes that it will be easier to find people when the sun rises.
The mayor of the city has now given a brief response. He says he is on his way to the scene of the tragedy.
The 1977 steel bridge had four lanes. More than 11 million vehicles crossed the bridge every year. The Francis Scott Key Bridge was an important part of the road network around Baltimore, the largest city in the eastern state of Maryland.
