Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore falls

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed following a collision with a large container ship, leading to concerns about potential casualties and vehicles plunging into the Patapsco River.

Reports from the Baltimore City Fire Department indicated that emergency calls began flooding in around 1:30 a.m., alerting authorities to a vessel striking a bridge column. While the exact number of vehicles on the span remains unclear, responders confirmed the presence of at least one large tractor-trailer at the scene.

Amidst the chaos, authorities revealed that seven individuals were believed to be in the river, prompting the swift deployment of dive and rescue teams to locate and assist them. Additionally, concerns arose regarding the presence of construction workers on the bridge who were reportedly pouring concrete at the time of the incident.

Further details emerged as the situation unfolded, with a Baltimore police spokesperson confirming a partial collapse of the bridge and the potential presence of workers in the water.

The MidAtlantic Coast Guard identified the vessel involved as the 948-foot Singapore-flagged cargo ship Dali, which was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the time of the collision.

Reacting to the crisis, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott took to social media to assure the public of ongoing emergency efforts, stating his awareness of the incident and imminent arrival at the scene. Similarly, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. urged for prayers for those affected as rescue operations commenced.

In response to the bridge collapse, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced the closure of all lanes in both directions on I-695 Key Bridge, redirecting traffic to alternative routes via I-95 and I-895.