Container Ship Hits Key Baltimore Bridge Support Causing It To Collapse
This is a “mass casualty event” according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.
BALTIMORE - Developing: A major support pillar on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland has been hit by Singaporean container ship Dali causing the bridge to almost entirely collapse and sending the people and vehicles that were on the bridge into the Patapsco River below. This is a “mass casualty event” according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.
Current Status: (Developing) 2 bodies recovered, believed to be construction crew members, and 4 people still missing and presumed dead. - Last update: 10:54 PM Wednesday, March 27, 2024 UTC
Bodies Recovered: Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, from Mexico living in Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, from Guatemala and lived in Dundalk. Both construction workers.
The workers on the bridge, according to officials, were from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras and were filling potholes at the time of the collapse.
The bridge was undergoing maintenance at the time of the crash but was still open to traffic. The USCG reported that the Motor Vessel Dali lost propulsion as it was leaving the Baltimore Harbor, after which the vessel hit the bridge and caused a complete collapse which led to around 20 people in the water according to an initial estimate.
The water in the river under the bridge was around 50 feet deep and about 47 degrees Fahrenheit before the sun came up during the bridge collapse, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoy that gathers surrounding data in the water.
According to Marine Traffic data, the container vessel was heading from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and was flying a Singapore flag. The vessel is around 985 feet long and 157 feet in width.
Baltimore County Fire Department: “MASS CASULTY INCIDENT BCOFD responded with numerous water rescue resources just before 2 a.m. after reports of a vessel striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge and causing a collapse. Motorists are advised to avoid the area of I695 and the Key Bridge.
County Fire crews are assisting Baltimore City Fire with the incident at the Key Bridge. At this time there are no further details as this remains an active scene. *TA
County Fire crews are assisting Baltimore City Fire with the incident at the Key Bridge. At this time there are no further details as this remains an active scene.
MAJOR BALTIMORE TRAFFIC ALERT: AVOID I-695 southeast corridor. I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike. Active scene. Use I-95 or I-895.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said, “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, "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 also said that before the collision, the crew of the container vessel lost power and issued a mayday which gave authorities time to stop the traffic flow to the bridge and prevented additional casualties.
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