A search and rescue mission is underway in Baltimore, Maryland, after a major bridge collapsed.
Early Tuesday morning, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Dali, was leaving Baltimore when it slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Video with a time stamp of just before 1:30 a.m. showed the Dali hitting the bridge, causing it to promptly collapse into the Patapsco River, sending cars into the water.
Watch the video below:
Another angle of cargo ship slamming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge extends over the Patapsco River and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor. It is an essential link of Interstate-695, or the Baltimore Beltway. pic.twitter.com/CLH98KFT3N
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 26, 2024
NPR reports the bridge serves “as both an essential highway artery and a hub for shipping along the East Coast.”
In a post on X, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) wrote, “My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation [Pete Buttigieg], Baltimore Mayor [Brandon Scott], [Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski], and [Baltimore Fire] as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”
“I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” he added.
I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration.
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) March 26, 2024
During a press conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called for prayer for those “we have to try to find and save” and the first responders.
“We’re going to continue to work in partnership with every part of government to do everything that we can to get us to the other side of this tragedy,” he added.
When asked about replacing the bridge, Scott said, “There will be time to discuss the bridge and how to get the bridge back up… But right now there are people in the water, and that’s the only thing we should be worried about.”
At least two people had been rescued since the collision, however, it was estimated as many around people were in the water.Â
