A catastrophic incident occurred early Tuesday in Baltimore when a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in its collapse and several vehicles plummeting into the river below. Rescue operations were immediately launched in search of at least seven individuals believed to be submerged.
The collision, captured in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows the ship striking a bridge support, leading to significant structural failures and the vessel subsequently catching fire, indicating it sinking.
Opened in 1977, the bridge is a crucial conduit over the Patapsco River, supporting the vital shipping activities associated with the Port of Baltimore and the broader East Coast region. It is named in honour of the national anthem’s lyricist.
Kevin Cartwright, Baltimore Fire Department’s communication director, expressed the gravity of the situation to The Associated Press, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to rescue and recover the affected individuals. Cartwright further revealed that the impact caused some cargo to hang precariously from the damaged structure.
As emergency teams scoured the waters for survivors, Cartwright described the situation as a “developing mass casualty event,” with the final impact scale still undetermined. The initial 911 alerts came around 1:30 a.m., reporting the maritime accident involving the bridge, which had several vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, on it at the moment of the collision.
In response, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. confirmed that emergency services were actively engaged in rescue operations. Concurrently, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced the complete bridge closure in both directions, with traffic reroutes in place to manage the disruption.
