A major incident unfolded early Tuesday morning in Baltimore harbor as a large cargo ship collided with the city’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a section of the bridge to collapse and vehicles to plummet into the icy waters below.
Emergency responders swiftly initiated a search-and-rescue operation, deploying divers and personnel to scour the area for individuals who may have been thrown into the water amid the bridge’s collapse.
The vessel involved, the Dali, flying the flag of Singapore, collided with the bridge around 1:30 a.m., as reported by MarineTraffic, a maritime tracking company. Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace confirmed that two individuals were rescued from the water.
Subsequent updates indicated that one person was transported to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, while the other declined medical treatment. Divers continued their efforts to locate any additional victims in the water, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, with ongoing updates provided by his team throughout the day. Senior White House officials have been in contact with Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor to extend federal assistance as needed.
An unclassified report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency revealed that the Dali experienced propulsion failure while departing the port, alerting Maryland officials of the impending collision. The vessel’s crew communicated their loss of control to the Maryland Department of Transportation, ultimately leading to the collision with the bridge and its subsequent collapse.
As a result of the incident, the waterway leading to and from the port has been closed, with no alternative routes available, impacting operations in the second busiest port in the mid-Atlantic region.
The owners and managers of the cargo ship, Grace Ocean Private Ltd, confirmed that all 22 crew members, including the pilots, were safe and accounted for following the collision, with no reported injuries among them.
