2024-03-26 11:06:03
A highway bridge in the state of Maryland has collapsed. According to the authorities, several people and vehicles fell into the cold water. Two people have been rescued so far.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor has completely collapsed.
Harford County Md Fire & Ems / Handout
Two people have been saved so far, the head of the Baltimore Fire Department said at a press conference. One of them was seriously injured. It is unclear how many people are still in the cold water. “More than seven people” are missing. The low temperatures make the search difficult. The fire department estimates that the operation will last several days. According to the ship’s owner, the ship’s crew remained uninjured.
The cargo ship that brought down the bridge was the ship “Dali,” which sails under the Singapore flag. The shipping company Maersk had chartered the 290 meter long ship, as the Danish company announced in a statement. According to Maersk, the ship was scheduled to leave Baltimore early in the morning for Sri Lanka. According to the timetable, the “Dali” should have reached the port in Colombo on April 22nd. However, the trip ended abruptly. Video recordings from a surveillance camera show how the ship hits one of the support pillars in the dark and the car bridge collapses within a short time. According to authorities, there is no evidence that the ship intentionally rammed the bridge.
BREAKING: Footage shows the moment a major bridge collapsed in the US city of Baltimore following it was hit by a cargo ship.
Full story: https://t.co/DZlFHY2Sdn
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The Key Bridge is a four-lane highway bridge that crosses the Patapsco River. It was built in 1977 and named following author and lawyer Francis Scott Key. The bridge is 2.5 kilometers long and crosses Baltimore Harbor. The port is the largest transshipment point for cars and light trucks in the USA. In 2023, 850,000 vehicles were handled in this port. It is still unclear to what extent the port’s operations will be affected by the accident.
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