(Daily Point) — The collapse of the Baltimore bridge has been officially confirmed as a major incident, with numerous vehicles plunging into the water. The incident occurred around 01:30 am local time (05:30 GMT) today (March 26) after a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Initial reports indicate that emergency services received a 911 call reporting the incident. The Baltimore City Fire Department has verified that a large vessel struck the bridge, causing it to collapse into the river.
Footage captured by CCTV cameras showing the bridge’s collapse has quickly circulated on social media, garnering thousands of reposts and shares. The Baltimore City Fire Department has labeled the collapse as a ‘mass casualty event,’ with multiple individuals and vehicles entering the river.
The communications chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department has suggested that as many as 20 workers may have fallen into the water, although the precise number of casualties remains unconfirmed.
Rescue operations are currently underway at the scene, with multiple agencies, led by the fire department and supported by the US Coast Guard, working tirelessly. The vessel involved in the collision with the bridge is reported to be the Singapore-flagged Dali container ship, measuring 300 meters long and en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Data from ship tracking systems indicates that the Dali departed from the Port Breeze terminal around 12:45 am local time before halting near the Baltimore bridge approximately 45 minutes later.
The shipping company owning the Dali, Synergy Marine Group, has confirmed to the BBC that there were no injuries among the ship’s crew. All crew members, including the two pilots onboard, have been safely located.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has acknowledged the incident and is en route to the scene. He has urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that emergency personnel are actively engaged in rescue efforts.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Key Bridge, spans the Patapsco River and is part of the I-95 interstate, linking Miami, Florida, to Maine.
