Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Recovery Efforts and Updates
Authorities in Baltimore, Maryland, are focusing on expanding recovery efforts after a cargo ship collision caused a major bridge to collapse, resulting in six presumed deaths.
Tragic Incident on Francis Scott Key Bridge
Six construction crew members were working on repairing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when the structure collapsed into the Patapsco River at around 1:30 a.m. local time.
A desperate search in near-freezing conditions managed to rescue two individuals from the waters, but hopes of finding the remaining crew members alive were abandoned after nearly 16 hours.
Transition to Recovery Operation
US Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath stated that the focus has shifted to a recovery operation, with plans to deploy divers for a detailed search to recover the missing individuals.
Maryland Secretary of State Police Roland Butler emphasized the need for a thorough recovery effort to bring closure to the families of the victims.
Personal Stories and International Impact
One of the missing workers, Miguel Luna, a father-of-three from El Salvador, was among those unaccounted for. The international community mourns the loss of workers from Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras.
Footage of the collision showed the container ship Dali colliding with the bridge support, leading to the collapse of the 47-year-old structure into the harbor.
Investigation and Response
Authorities confirmed that the incident was not connected to terrorism and was likely an accident. Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on analyzing recordings from the vessel to determine the cause of the collision.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a crucial link in the East Coast highway system, and its collapse has impacted the operations of the Port of Baltimore, the ninth-busiest major US port.
Rebuilding and Recovery
US President Joe Biden expressed condolences for the tragic accident and pledged support to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge to restore maritime traffic in the area.