Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, said he’s spoken with Maryland and Baltimore officials.
“Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response,” he said.
I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) March 26, 2024
The Francis Scott Key Bridge rests partially collapsed after a container ship ran into it in Baltimore Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA
Photo taken from the X (formerly Twitter) feed @HarforCoFireEMS Harford County, MD Volunteer Fire & EMS showing a portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US, collapsed. Photograph: Harford County/PA
The Synergy Marine Group, manager of the Singapore-flagged container ship, the Dali, has said that all crew members, including two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries, Reuters reported.
Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: vehicles fall into water after being hit by ship
Ashifa Kassam
A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a cargo ship collided with it early on Tuesday, sending multiple vehicles into the water.
At about 1.30am, a vessel crashed into the bridge. A video posted on X appeared to show much of the 2.6km bridge giving way, as a number of vehicles fell into the water below.
“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X.
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, said Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department.
He said agencies had received 911 calls about 1.30am, reporting a vessel travelling outbound from Baltimore that had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.
“Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,” Cartwright said. He said it was too early to know how many people were affected but described the collapse as a “developing mass casualty event”.
Moment bridge collapses in Baltimore after cargo ship collision – video
A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a large boat collided with it early this morning, sending multiple vehicles into the water. Watch the footage here:
Moment bridge collapses in Baltimore after cargo ship collision – video
Brandon Scott, the mayor of Baltimore, said emergency personnel are on the scene at the Key Bridge.
I'm aware of and en route to the incident at the Key Bridge. I have been in contact with @BaltimoreFire Chief Wallace, @GovWesMoore@JohnnyOJr, and @AACoExec. Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway.
A part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland has collapsed after a vessel crashed into the bridge, causing vehicles to fall into the river below.
The coastguard in Baltimore said the vessel that hit the bridge was a container ship flying under a Singapore flag, WTOP reported.
