Baltimore woke to a harrowing sight early Tuesday morning as the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a vital artery for the city’s commuters, lay partially submerged in the Patapsco River. The catastrophic collapse followed a collision with a container ship, thrusting the city into a state of emergency and sparking a frantic search-and-rescue operation for the missing.
Governor Wes Moore, in response to the disaster, declared a state of emergency, vowing to marshal federal resources to aid in the recovery efforts. “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 stated.
The collapse occurred when the container ship Dali, under the operation of a pilot as mandated by Maryland law, struck one of the bridge’s support columns. This impact sent at least seven vehicles plunging into the icy waters below, with authorities indicating that up to seven individuals were unaccounted for. The Baltimore Fire Department, spearheaded by Chief James Wallace, immediately launched a search and rescue mission, utilizing sonar to detect vehicles submerged in the river’s murky depths.
The incident has left the Baltimore community in disbelief, with Mayor Brandon Scott likening the scene to “something out of an action movie.” The bridge’s collapse not only poses a significant logistical challenge, rerouting traffic from the 1.6-mile steel structure, but it also marks a moment of loss for the city. “We know that we have a long road ahead, not just in search-and-rescue, but in the fallout from this,” remarked Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.
Local residents, like Priscilla Thompson, were jolted awake by the catastrophic event, describing the noise of the collapsing steel as something that “shook this house so bad.” The aftermath was a haunting silence that settled over the area, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded moments before.
The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside local authorities, has been at the forefront of the rescue operations. Petty Officer First Class Matthew West detailed the immediate deployment of response boats and helicopters to the site, highlighting the concerted effort to find and assist any survivors. Divers, facing challenging conditions such as cold water temperatures and swift tides, have been relentless in their search, despite the inherent risks.
The Dali, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship stretching 948 feet, became the inadvertent catalyst for the disaster. Built in 2015 and arriving from Norfolk, Virginia, its collision with the bridge has raised numerous questions about the circumstances leading up to the incident. The ship, which had recently departed from the Port of Baltimore, was carrying 22 Indian crew members, all of whom have been accounted for without injury.
Amid the structural devastation, there are growing concerns about the environmental impact, particularly regarding potential fuel spills into the Patapsco River. Although the ship’s manager, Synergy Marine Group, has reported no pollution, local authorities reported a detectable odor of diesel fuel, adding an environmental dimension to the unfolding crisis.
The Key Bridge, an iconic structure named after the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” has been more than just a physical link across the harbor. Carrying over 12.4 million vehicles annually, its collapse severs a lifeline for the city, underscoring the critical importance of infrastructure resilience.
As the day broke, residents like Lupe Lucas and her son stood by the water, grappling with the surreal absence of the once-familiar bridge. “When the sun rises, and there’s nothing there, that’s going to be heartbreaking for a lot of people,” Lucas reflected.
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