A container ship collided with a 12.57 km long bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, causing it to collapse into the river.
As a result, a Mass Casualty Incident has been declared in Baltimore. There are reports of people being in the water. The temperature in the area is currently 6°C (43°F).
Rescue operations have commenced for at least seven people believed to be in the water, said Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department.
The Volunteer Firefighters, the Volunteer Swift Water Team, Special Operations Team are assisting the Unified Command at the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
According to Cartwright, “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
He explained that it was too early to know how many people were on the bridge but called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event”.
Footages from a live stream of the bridge showed several of its spans collapsing after it was hit by the cargo ship.
See video:
A bridge in US city of #Baltimore has entirely collapsed into Patapsco River after being hit by a container ship.
7 people and several vehicles have fallen into the river, says Baltimore City Fire Department. #FrancisScottKeyBridge pic.twitter.com/yXg9rTxg2K— Dr.Shaun🇵🇸 (@fiftysix56__) March 26, 2024