Overview of the Baltimore bridge collapse incident

In the early hours of Tuesday, a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when, resulting in a portion of the bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River.

Initial reports from the Baltimore City Fire Department said that up to 20 individuals and several vehicles were plunged into the river following the collapse, triggering a large-scale multi-agency rescue and recovery operation.

Details of the incident and emergency response

The incident occurred around 01:30 ET when the container ship, identified as ‘Dali’ flying under a Singapore flag, struck a column of the bridge, leading to the catastrophic failure of the structure.

Videos circulating on social media captured the moment the bridge descended into the water.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, described the situation as a “dire emergency,” with the department’s immediate focus on rescue and recovery efforts.

“This is a developing mass casualty event,” Cartwright stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The response from authorities and ongoing investigations

In response to the disaster, Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore, has declared a state of emergency and emphasised the mobilization of federal resources to support the ongoing rescue operations.

“We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety,” Moore said.

Meanwhile, the shipping company Synergy Marine Group confirmed that all crew members aboard the ‘Dali’ were accounted for, with no reported injuries among them.

The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation and rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing.