Baltimore bridge collapse: two our bodies recovered throughout seek for victims

Maryland authorities stated Wednesday that two our bodies have been recovered after a cargo ship slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge Tuesday morning.

Divers discovered a purple pickup truck submerged underneath roughly 25 ft water within the center span of the bridge and located two our bodies trapped inside.

Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland Butler recognized the victims as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore and Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk.

Butler stated the boys’s households have been notified by authorities.

“Based mostly upon the situations, we’re now transferring from a restoration mode to a salvage operation due to the superstructure surrounding what we imagine are the automobiles and the quantity of concrete and particles, divers are not capable of safely navigate or function round that within the areas round this wreckage,” Butler stated.

“The collapse of the Key Bridge isn’t just a Maryland disaster. The collapse of a key bridge is a worldwide disaster. The nationwide financial system and the world’s financial system relies on the port of Baltimore,” Gov. Wes Moore stated. “The port handles extra vehicles and extra farm gear than some other port within the nation.”

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo has instructed the Guatemalan consulate in Maryland to offer updates on the seek for the development employees who went lacking within the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early Tuesday.

A minimum of two Guatemalan residents are amongst these lacking. The others are from Honduras and Mexico, in line with diplomats from these nations.

President Arévalo requested the consulate “accompany the household [of those missing] within the vital procedures.”

“In these troublesome instances, my solidarity and a focus are with them and their households,” he stated.

Investigators have been setting up proof Wednesday from the cargo ship that slammed into the bridge, inflicting it to break down. Down within the waters under divers have been looking out by means of the twisted steel for six building employees who plunged into the harbor and have been feared useless.

An obscure Nineteenth century regulation might doubtlessly restrict the legal responsibility for the proprietor of the cargo ship that slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge Tuesday morning, sending the construction, together with employees and automobiles, into the water under.

The 1851 regulation, if enacted, might save Grace Ocean, the Singapore-based proprietor of the container ship, a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

Tulane College’s Maritime Regulation Centre director Martin Davis advised The Straits Instances that the regulation might decrease Grace Ocean’s authorized woes to solely tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

The regulation was initially carried out to assist delivery giants keep away from devastating losses from disasters whereas out at sea. The regulation was cited in a Supreme Court docket case involving the Titanic greater than a century in the past.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday appeared to stroll again feedback from President Joe Biden that U.S. taxpayers would foot the invoice for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Showing on MSNBC Wednesday, Yellen stated cash from the bipartisan infrastructure regulation that might “doubtlessly be useful.”

“My expectation can be that in the end there’ll be insurance coverage funds, partly, to cowl this. However we don’t wish to enable worrying about the place the financing will come from to carry up reconstruction,” Yellen stated.

Her feedback come a day after Biden stated it was his “intention that the federal authorities will pay for all the price of reconstructing that bridge, and I count on the Congress to assist my effort.”

Biden stated that, whereas the trouble will take a while, the individuals of Baltimore “can rely on us.”

Singaporean officers say they are going to conduct their very own investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse along with supporting U.S. authorities.

The ship that struck the bridge, the Dali, had been touring underneath a Singaporean flag. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore stated Wednesday it was working with the ship’s administration firm, Synergy Marine Group, to get data to the U.S. Coast Guard for its investigation.

The company additionally stated Singapore’s Transport Security Investigation Bureau will independently examine, to not decide legal responsibility, however to determine classes for the longer term.

The Singapore-flagged cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, inflicting its collapse, was transporting containers with hazardous supplies, the U.S. Coast Guard stated.

Vice Admiral Peter Gautier stated in the course of the White Home press briefing that of the 4700 containers on board the Dali, 56 include hazardous supplies and two are lacking overboard. Those which might be within the water don’t include hazardous supplies, he advised reporters. 

“There isn’t a menace to the general public from the hazardous supplies on board,” Gautier stated. 

A specialised hazmat staff went aboard the ship to examine the cargo. 

“Nearly all of these containers are nearer to the pilot home and are utterly unaffected by the injury to the bow of the ship,” he stated. “And we’ve got not decided that there is any form of launch at the moment.”

“The actual important factor right here is that, as you understand, a portion of the bridge stays on the bow on that ship, and we shall be coordinating very carefully with the Military Corps of Engineers and their contractors to first impact the elimination of that particles earlier than the vessel can then be eliminated,” Gautier added. “The vessel bow is sitting on the underside due to the load of that bridge particles on there.”

The Coast Guard shall be working with the Military Corps of Engineers to steer the cleanup of the Patapsco River so the Port of Baltimore can get again to full operation, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg advised reporters.

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this replace.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg delivered an replace on the Baltimore bridge collapse restoration effort at Wednesday’s White Home press briefing. 

The secretary outlined the steps the Division of Transportation is taking to reopen the Port of Baltimore, take care of provide chain points till the port reopens, rebuild the bridge and deal with transportation reroutes till the bridge is restored.

“Rebuilding is not going to be fast, or simple or low cost. However we are going to get it completed,” Buttigieg stated. 

The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating with the Military Corps of Engineers to clear the channel and restore delivery entry to the Port of Baltimore. The Biden administration will use new regulatory authority established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation to “clean out provide chains” and “preserve items transferring,” in line with the secretary.

Buttigieg stated the Nationwide Transportation Security Board is main an impartial investigation into the cargo ship accident that led to the bridge catastrophe. He stated President Biden will work with Congress “to offer all of the assist that Maryland and Baltimore wants.” 

“This shall be an extended and, troublesome path. However we are going to come collectively round Baltimore and we are going to rebuild collectively,” Buttigieg stated.

Nationwide Transportation Security Board Chair Jennifer Homendy advised Fox Information on Wednesday that her company has recovered the voyage knowledge recorder from the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, inflicting it to break down.

“It data all the pieces from velocity to location of the vessel,” Homendy stated, noting that the recorder has been despatched again to a lab for evaluation. “So we can share what occurred by means of a timeline of occasions main as much as the placing of the bridge.”

“After which we hope to marry that with all the pieces that occurred afterwards. Any form of notification, any form of mayday, any form of potential evacuation,” she added.

Homendy additionally stated the NTSB’s focus proper now could be on getting “perishable proof” from the Dali cargo ship, which stays caught underneath the collapsed steel from the bridge.

“So as soon as we get on the vessel, hopefully at this time we can get, some other electronics that we wish to take, some other form of doc.

Fox Information’ Griff Jenkins contributed to this replace.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore ordered the state flag at half workers Wednesday to honor these misplaced within the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe.

“Our whole state is grateful for the tireless work of our first responders and everybody who has stepped as much as serve prior to now 24 hours. Maryland is powerful and has risen to fulfill this second because the work continues at this time,” Moore stated in an announcement.

“The hearts of each Marylander are with the households of these affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” he continued. “We have now spoken to the households, prayed with them, and guaranteed them that our state will mobilize each useful resource to carry them closure.”

A minimum of eight individuals went into the water early Tuesday. Two have been rescued, however the different six — a part of a building crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge — have been lacking and presumed useless. A seek for their our bodies was underway Wednesday.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be a part of White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at Wednesday’s afternoon press briefing.

Buttigieg and Vice Admiral Peter Gautier, Deputy Commandant for Operations for america Coast Guard, are anticipated to ship updates on the federal authorities’s response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland.

Earlier, Buttigieg advised Fox Information that Individuals ought to put together for the availability chain impacts of delivery disruptions within the Port of Baltimore. “The bridge itself carried about 30,000 automobiles a day. There are tunnels that work as options, however there’s going to be some impacts on visitors. The opposite main concern proper now could be the port,” he stated on “America’s Newsroom.” 

“One factor that is essential to know is, the way in which that the stream of cargo ships is dealt with may be very totally different from one thing like air visitors management, the place if, say, a runway goes out or there’s an issue at an airport and planes need to divert, there’s a single authority telling these planes what to do and the place to go. It would not work that means with ocean delivery,” the secretary defined. 

“You’ve got received totally different shippers, totally different ports, totally different terminals, totally different cargo homeowners. They’re underneath no requirement to speak to one another. However we have been utilizing the relationships and a number of the instruments we’ve got on the Division of Transportation to ensure that coordination does occur.” 

Buttigieg famous the Port of Baltimore is one in all largest receivers of auto shipments in america, together with vehicles and farm gear. 

Employees recovered a truck from the positioning of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse within the Patapsco River, however at the least one automobile stays hanging from steel particles, in line with the Related Press.

The outlet cited a regulation enforcement official who had information of a Homeland Safety memo detailing the restoration. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Wednesday praised divers who’ve spent hours in frigid water. 

“They’re down there in darkness the place they’ll actually see a couple of foot in entrance of them,” he stated. “They’re making an attempt to navigate mangled steel they usually’re additionally in a spot it’s now presumed that individuals have misplaced their lives, so the work of those first responders, the work of those divers, I can’t stress sufficient how exceptional these people are.”

A search is ongoing for the six building employees who’re presumed useless following the bridge collapse. 

One of many lacking Brawner Builders staff
has been recognized by Telemundo Washington D.C. as 49-year-old Miguel Luna of El Salvador, whose relations say has six youngsters. Two Guatemalans aged 26 and 35 are additionally unaccounted for, in line with the nation’s overseas ministry, and a colleague has advised The Related Press that he was knowledgeable the six have been sitting of their vans throughout a break on the time of the catastrophe. 

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman and the Related Press contributed to this report.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., warned that the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe might “in a short time” trigger main provide chain issues due to President Biden’s insurance policies.

Maryland officers have closed the Port of Baltimore whereas restoration efforts are underway within the Patapsco River the place the bridge fell. Ships shall be unable to enter or exit the port till the mangled heap of metal particles from the bridge is cleared from the channel.

Van Drew, who sits on the Home Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, stated firms that depend on the port to ship and obtain items will quickly have issues with their inventories.

“It’s so essential that we understand that the inventories that firms have are usually not the identical inventories they used to have earlier than Joe Biden. As a result of inflation is so excessive, it is problematic for them to carry that many items in a single location,” Van Drew defined. “So, we will in a short time have issues with the availability chain.” 

Security investigators probing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, are inspecting whether or not contaminated gas was an element within the cargo ship dropping energy and ramming the bridge. 

Andrew Lipow, president of consulting agency Lipow Oil Associates, LLC, advised Fox Information there are two sorts of gas that vessels burn and defined the place so-called “soiled gas” comes from. 

“Marine distillate fuels, also referred to as Marine Gasoline Oil, is utilized in diesel engines. Then there’s Marine Residual Fuels which can be utilized in the primary engines. Some renewable fuels, comparable to biodiesel or renewable diesel have lately been used within the diesel engines,” Lipow defined.

Soiled diesel gas is a gas which may be contaminated with water or sediment picked up in the course of the refining course of coming in with crude oil, or from the catalyst utilized in another refining processes, in line with Lipow. 

“You would possibly suppose, how might refiners let this occur? They wash the crude with water to take away the sediment. The diesel gas should be boiled out of the crude oil and infrequently incorporates any stable materials after this step has taken place. Sediment can accumulate within the distribution system in tank bottoms and even barges and in the end be loaded onto a vessel,” he stated. “This could possibly be a attainable supply of contamination. The trade does have high quality specs relating to the sediment content material.”

If soiled gas precipitated the facility outage on the cargo ship Dali, the extra probably wrongdoer can be soiled residual gas, Lipow defined.

“Residual gas oil is produced from the heaviest a part of the crude oil, the ‘backside of the barrel.’ Different heavy oil streams are produced at a number of the downstream items that are blended into residual gas and these streams could include catalyst particulates,” he stated.  

“These ‘backside of the barrel’ heavy oil streams could also be sourced from a number of refiners and blended to supply the Marine Residual Gas. In some instances, they might be incompatible with one another that means that upon mixing, solids will type and that plugs up the gas injectors ravenous the engine of gas,” he continued. “No gas: no energy.” 

Lipow stated sediment can collect within the distribution system in tank bottoms and even barges and in the end be loaded onto a vessel. 

“The very nature of residual fuels being heavy is extra prone to result in this being a possible supply of ‘soiled gas,'” he stated. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared on “America’s Newsroom” Wednesday to debate his go to to the positioning of the Baltimore bridge collapse and ongoing restoration efforts.

Buttigieg stated the Division of Transportation’s speedy aim is to clear the channel in Baltimore Harbor and restore delivery entry to the port.

“After all, the final word aim is to clear that channel, get that port again up and operating as rapidly as attainable. However that is not going to occur in a single day. So we have got to take care of the implications,” Buttigieg stated.

The secretary noticed that it took 5 years to construct the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier than it opened in 1977 and stated there’s not but an estimate of how lengthy it is going to take to rebuild.

“The president made it very clear that each device that the federal authorities must be out there to Governor Wes Moore because the state of Maryland leads the work on each the bridge and the port,” he advised “America’s Newsroom.” 

“We have to ensure that funding is just not an impediment, and we will ensure that we tear down any administrative limitations, too. And that is going to require a variety of work. We’ll do all the pieces we will as a division that doesn’t require an act of Congress. However we’re additionally going to interact Congress as a result of we are going to probably want their assist to verify a number of the funding is in place.” 

Dispatch audio from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police gives perception into the moments earlier than the container ship Dali rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor. 

At 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, the Dali veered off track after dropping energy and headed towards one of many bridge’s assist pillars, the Baltimore Banner reported. 

Two minutes later, a transportation authority officer could possibly be heard saying, “I want one in all you guys on the south aspect, one in all you guys on the north aspect, maintain all visitors on the Key Bridge. There is a ship approaching that simply misplaced their steering so till we get that underneath management, we have got to cease all visitors.”

At 1:29 a.m., an officer is heard saying within the police dispatch audio that, “The entire bridge simply fell down! Begin whoever, all people — the entire bridge simply collapsed!”

Right here is an up to date timeline of occasions that occurred on March 26, 2024.

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this replace.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated Wednesday it’s too early to say if anybody is at fault for the cargo ship accident that precipitated the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

However he added that if anybody is discovered to be accountable, they should be held accountable.

When requested if these liable ought to pay to rebuild the bridge, Moore advised Fox Information’ Griff Jenkins, “I believe it is too early within the investigation to know that.” 

“However the factor that I do know is that if persons are discovered to be discovered to held chargeable for what occurred, there must be accountability for that,” Moore stated.

The Democratic governor, now thrust into the nationwide highlight by Tuesday’s tragedy, stated the highest precedence for his administration is to get the Port of Baltimore reopened and defend the livelihoods of employees who depend on it. 

“The factor that we wish to remind individuals is we’ve got to verify our employees are protected,” Moore stated. “They’d nothing to do with this. The opposite factor is we have got to have the ability to focus and get our financial engine going once more. We have to get that bridge rebuilt and we’ve got to get this this port reopened.” 

The governor stated rebuilding efforts shall be “lengthy” and “difficult,” and would require federal help. President Biden has pledged emergency funds to Maryland to help with catastrophe restoration and known as on Congress to cross further funds. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined “Fox & Mates” Wednesday morning to offer an replace on restoration efforts after the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe.

The bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship misplaced energy and struck one in all its assist piers. Six building employees who have been on the bridge are presumed useless, officers stated. Two have been pulled from the water by rescuers, one in important situation who was hospitalized.

Moore advised “Fox & Mates” that officers haven’t any indication there have been any non-public civilians driving on the bridge on the time of its collapse. “We don’t have any indication as of proper now of particular person residents that that have been that have been caught on this,” the governor stated.

He added that authorities on the bridge who have been capable of halt visitors when the ship issued a mayday alert prevented the disaster from being worse. 

“They’re heroes, they usually saved numerous lives,” Moore stated. 

The governor stated divers are within the Patapsco River Wednesday morning working in “pitch darkish” and “chilly” to get better the our bodies of these killed for his or her households. 

“We have moved on to a restoration mission,” Moore stated. “We’re going to expend each effort to carry them closure.”

As Maryland authorities take care of the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Baltimore Beltway, one other state’s former governor who dealt with an analogous tragedy spoke out to Fox Information.

Former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty
advised “Your World” Tuesday there are many similarities but additionally some apparent variations between what occurred in Maryland early Tuesday and the 2007 incident in Minneapolis when a structural flaw introduced the I-35W bridge tumbling right down to the Mississippi River under. 13 individuals died and 145 have been injured in that collapse.

“[There are] so many similarities,” Pawlenty advised “Your World. “The shock, the grief, the unhappiness, the expression duly of condolences to the households and the victims are all high of thoughts. However then, after all, concurrently, a rush of different issues.”

Pawlenty stated he expects the all-hands-on-deck restoration effort lauded by Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore to proceed, simply as his personal did when he oversaw the I-35W restoration.

Nonetheless, not like in Minneapolis, the place the NTSB launched into an investigation into the construction itself, Pawlenty surmised investigators will focus moreso on purported mechanical failures on the Singapore-flagged container ship that struck the Key Bridge shortly after setting sail down the Patapsco River from the Port of Baltimore. 

“[I]t appears like that is going to shift from what occurred to the bridge to what occurred on the ship…” Pawlenty stated. 

Fox Information Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this replace.

A seek for the six building employees who’re presumed useless following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore resumed Wednesday morning as particulars are rising about their identities and the households they go away behind. 

One of many lacking Brawner Builders staff has been recognized by Telemundo Washington D.C. as 49-year-old Miguel Luna of El Salvador, whose relations say has six youngsters. Two Guatemalans aged 26 and 35 are additionally unaccounted for, in line with the nation’s overseas ministry, and a colleague has advised The Related Press that he was knowledgeable the six have been sitting of their vans throughout a break on the time of the catastrophe. 

“It’s so arduous for me to explain. I do know {that a} month in the past I used to be there, and I do know what it looks like when the trailers cross. Think about realizing that it’s falling. It’s so arduous, one wouldn’t know what to do,” Brawner Builders worker Jesus Campos stated. 

Additionally among the many lacking are individuals from Honduras and Mexico, diplomats say. The Honduran man was recognized as Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandova, The Related Press studies. 

Operators of the Dali cargo ship had issued a mayday name that the vessel had misplaced energy moments earlier than the crash, however the ship nonetheless headed towards the span at “a really, very speedy velocity,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated Tuesday. 

The 985-foot-long vessel struck one of many 1.6-mile-long bridge’s helps, inflicting the span to interrupt and fall into the water inside seconds. 

An emergency responder could possibly be heard on dispatch audio mentioning that building employees had been working on the bridge in the course of the collapse, and an “unknown quantity of these employees [were] within the water.” That prompted a name for a dive staff. 

The Guatemalan International Ministry later stated in an announcement that “Two Guatemalans, 26 and 35 years outdated, initially from San Luis, Petén and Camotán, Chiquimula, respectively; are lacking after the accident that occurred early this Tuesday, March 26, when a cargo ship misplaced management on the Patapsco River, colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.” 

“The Guatemalans have been a part of a complete of eight employees who have been repairing the asphalt on the bridge on the time of the accident,” it added. “Two males have been rescued, however one in all them is in important situation.” 

Fox Information Digital’s Greg Norman, Bradford Betz and the Related Press contributed to this replace.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday after a container ship misplaced energy navigating the channel and collided with one of many bridge’s assist pilings has resulted within the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, which is able to impression the availability chain on the Japanese Seaboard and past.

Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a professor within the Division of Maritime Enterprise Administration at Texas A&M College – Galveston, advised FOX Enterprise that firms with cargo sure for Baltimore are working to reroute these shipments to different ports with the capability to deal with 

“The primary candidate shall be New York, then it may be Hampton Roads, which is in Virginia, Philadelphia – however it’s additionally a decrease capability, so it’s kind of harder for Philadelphia,” Rodrigue stated. “However New York and Hampton Roads can deal with this visitors.”

He added that it will not be an issue for these ports to deal with the visitors from “ro/ro” ships – which may accommodate vehicles driving on and driving off – given Baltimore’s function as a key port for vehicle shipments.

The Port of Baltimore handles extra auto cargo than some other U.S. port with 750,000 automobiles flowing by means of the port in 2022, in line with port knowledge. Ford and Common Motors every introduced that they’re working to reroute auto shipments that have been scheduled to go to Baltimore and stated the impression can be minimal.

The port additionally serves as a hub for different items together with coal, because it was the second-busiest port for coal exports in 2023. It is usually the most important port by quantity for farm and building equipment, in addition to sugar and salt. Its indefinite closure might create bottlenecks within the provide chain, leading to delays and better prices for sure items on the Japanese Seaboard.

In February, the Maryland governor’s workplace introduced that the Port of Baltimore’s private and non-private terminals dealt with a report 52.3 million tons of overseas cargo valued at $80 billion in 2023, a report quantity of cargo. That determine contains about 1.3 million tons of ro/ro farm and building gear plus 11.7 million tons of common cargo tons. It additionally dealt with 1.1 million 21-foot equal unit containers.

Baltimore space residents are additionally going to face elevated visitors congestion with the bridge out of motion. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, named for the creator of the U.S. nationwide anthem, is a key thoroughfare that had a median visitors quantity of 31,000 vehicles per day or 11.3 million automobiles per yr on the I-695 freeway.

FOX Enterprise’ Eric Revell and Reuters contributed to this replace.

A former service provider marine captain – who’s traveled out and in of the Baltimore port “a lot of instances” – defined what occurs when a mechanical error happens on cargo ships. 

“Whenever you have a look at these incidents, usually you will have a look at human error, you will have a look at mechanical error and probably some form of safety concern. At preliminary look, it appears right here like it’s a mechanical error,” former Cpt. Klaus Luhta stated on “Varney & Co.”

“There are some instances the place when a ship loses propulsion, you simply haven’t any means of controlling it,” he continued. “And this seems to be a kind of catastrophes the place it was simply out of the palms of what anyone might do.”

The Francis Scott Key Bridge alongside I-695 in Maryland tragically collapsed into Baltimore harbor following a “ship strike,” officers stated.

A number of automobiles and employees have been on the bridge on the time of its collapse. On Tuesday, two individuals have been pulled from the water, one in important situation. Search and rescue operations for at the least six others have been suspended that night at 7:30 p.m.ET. 

The Maryland governor’s workplace confirmed {that a} cargo ship misplaced energy and despatched a mayday warning earlier than hitting the Baltimore bridge.

The large container ship named DALI has beforehand collided with infrastructure whereas docking, in line with studies that present DALI collided with a stone wall at a dock in Antwerp, Belgium, within the afternoon of July 11, 2016.

The container ship suffered injury and was docked for repairs, however nobody was injured within the collision, in line with The New York Instances.

“You are accelerating the vessel as you allow the port, so that you could maneuver underneath that bridge and thru the channels successfully,” Luhta defined. “So it is probably that as [an] enhance in velocity was occurring, there was a propulsion failure. It seems that means from the video.”

Fox Enterprise’ Kristen Altus contributed to this replace.

Maryland’s newly elected Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who many imagine has ambitions for larger workplace, was thrust into the nationwide highlight on Tuesday and reacted to the primary catastrophic occasion on his watch when a container ship toppled a bridge inflicting a number of deaths.

“This morning, our state is in shock and I wish to take this second to talk on to the individuals of our state,” Moore, who took workplace in January of final yr, stated throughout a press convention on Tuesday morning.

“To our first responders. I am in awe of you. I am in awe of your whole braveness and your whole power. I am in awe of all the pieces you do for each one in all us. You noticed a disaster and also you stated, what can I do to assist? And our response groups are doing all the pieces in our energy to rescue and get better the victims of this collapse, actually, as we communicate, individuals who, as we communicate, are on the market, our divers, our air belongings. Folks proper now working to avoid wasting lives and are doing it as a result of the state requested and we are going to replace the general public because the work continues.”

Moore was reacting to information and video of a big container ship slamming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge within the Baltimore harbor on Monday evening sending the bridge crashing into the water.

The crew of the cargo ship, originating out of India, issued a mayday within the moments earlier than the catastrophe in time for authorities to cease visitors from getting into the bridge, limiting the variety of automobiles concerned in what officers have known as a “mass casualty occasion.”

“We’re grateful that between the mayday and the collapse that we had officers who have been capable of start to cease the stream of visitors so extra vehicles weren’t on the bridge,” Moore stated.

Authorities stated a crew of eight building employees have been on the bridge, along with any visitors on the time of the collapse. It’s unclear precisely how many individuals have been killed within the accident however at the least 6 persons are unaccounted for after 2 have been rescued from the water.

The disaster represents the primary check the place Moore’s management shall be thrust into the nationwide highlight a bit over a yr after he received the Maryland gubernatorial major with President Biden’s assistance on the marketing campaign path after which defeated Republican Dan Cox by over 30 factors.

Fox Information’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

The proprietor of the Singapore-flagged ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore
, inflicting it to break down, might face a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in injury claims after it despatched automobiles into the water and and impacted the jap U.S. transportation community.

Authorized consultants, nonetheless, stated there’s a option to scale back legal responsibility underneath an obscure Nineteenth-century regulation as soon as invoked by the proprietor of the Titanic to restrict its payout for that ship’s sinking in 1912, in line with The Straits Instances.

Singapore-based Grace Ocean is the proprietor of the container ship known as Dali that crashed into the bridge on Tuesday on its journey chartered by the delivery big Maersk. Damages claims are prone to fall on the ship proprietor.

The corporate might face many lawsuits from a number of events, together with from the bridge’s proprietor and the households of six employees who have been presumed useless on the conclusion of a search and rescue mission within the Patapsco River.

A security investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, will embody whether or not contaminated gas was a think about a cargo ship dropping energy and crashing into the bridge.

The lights on the Dali started to flicker about an hour into the ship’s journey early Tuesday. A harbor pilot and assistant reported energy points and a lack of propulsion previous to the collision, in line with a Coast Guard briefing report.

“The vessel went useless, no steering energy and no electronics,” an officer aboard the ship stated Tuesday. “One of many engines coughed after which stopped. The scent of burned gas was in all places within the engine room and it was pitch black.”

The ship didn’t have sufficient time to drop anchors to cease drifting, in line with the officer, and crew members issued a mayday name earlier than the crash occurred.

Blackouts at sea are unusual, however they do occur and have lengthy been considered as a main accident danger for ships on the water.

One reason for ship blackouts is contaminated gas that may create issues with its primary energy turbines, stated Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect. He stated an entire blackout might end in a ship dropping propulsion and that smaller turbines can kick in, however they’re unable to hold all of the capabilities of the primary ones and take time to begin.

The U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District introduced it has activated its Emergency Operations Heart to permit greater than 1,100 engineering, building, contracting and operations specialists to offer assist to native, state and federal businesses after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

USACE stated it is going to lead the trouble to clear the federal channel as a part of the bigger interagency restoration effort. It stated it’s working with native, state and federal companions to find out the strikes required to take away the collapsed bridge.

USACE is offering:

• Licensed underwater evaluation capabilities by Structural Skilled Engineers, Remotely Operated Car and sonar;

• Structural Engineering assist, together with licensed bridge security inspectors and concrete search and rescue structural technical specialists;

• Waterway particles administration, led by USACE particles elimination vessel REYNOLDS, which patrols the waters of the Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River for drift and particles that could possibly be hazardous to navigation.

“Our ideas are with these impacted by the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Baltimore District Commander Col. Estee Pinchasin stated. “Our Emergency Managers are carefully monitoring the incident and coordinating with accomplice businesses for any potential assist requests.”

The Minnesota Division of Transportation introduced Tuesday that the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis shall be lit up in Maryland’s state colours of purple, black and yellow as a present of assist for Baltimore residents following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

“Tonight, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River shall be lit purple, white, yellow and black—the colours of Maryland’s flag,” the Minnesota Division of Transportation wrote Tuesday evening on X, the platform previously often called Twitter.

“Our ideas are with these injured or nonetheless lacking, and with the courageous first responders following this morning’s bridge tragedy in Baltimore,” the publish continued.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday morning after a cargo ship crashed into the span. The 1.6-mile bridge carries Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland, and crosses the Patapsco River. The collision was captured on a livestream, with visitors transferring alongside the bridge and building crews engaged on the construction.

Here’s a timeline of occasions that occurred on March 26, 2024.

Dali, a giant 948-foot-long container ship that may ultimately collide with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, left port from Baltimore Harbor. The ship was headed on a month-long voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Minutes earlier than 1:30 a.m., Dali misplaced energy; lights on the vessel flickered because it headed towards a assist pillar of the bridge.

Fox Information’ Breana Scheckwitz contributed to this report.

Marine Site visitors animations present the pathway of the Dali container ship earlier than it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The animations, which have been posted by the Related Press, first present the Dali leaving the delivery docks earlier than heading towards the bridge and coming to a cease as soon as it reached it.

Within the second animation, numerous rescue boats are seen responding to the Dali after it struck the bridge, inflicting it to plunge into the river under.

Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group owns and manages the 985-foot-long vessel and confirmed on Tuesday in an announcement that the ship hit a pillar underneath the bridge, which precipitated the construction to break down.

All crew members and the 2 pilots on board have been accounted for, although six out of eight building crew members who have been engaged on the bridge when it fell have nonetheless not been discovered.

On Tuesday evening, the Coast Guard known as off search efforts, including the six lacking employees are presumed to be useless.

Dispatch audio from emergency responders captured the tense environment after a cargo ship rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, inflicting it to be utterly destroyed.

Operators of the Dali cargo ship had issued a mayday name that the vessel had misplaced energy moments earlier than the crash, however the ship nonetheless headed towards the span at “a really, very speedy velocity,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated.

The 985-foot-long vessel struck one of many 1.6-mile lengthy bridge’s helps, inflicting the span to interrupt and fall into the water inside seconds.

An emergency responder could possibly be heard on the dispatch audio mentioning that building employees had been working on the bridge in the course of the collapse, and an “unknown quantity of these employees [were] within the water.” That prompted a name for a dive staff.

Later within the name, one other dispatcher says the “primary portion” of the bridge had collapsed into the water, inflicting automobiles to be “plummetted and submerged” within the water. Dispatchers additionally point out that police have begun stopping automobiles from getting into the bridge.

One other dispatcher described it as a “mass casualty” incident.

Click on right here to learn extra.

Bradford Betz and Brooke Curto of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.

President Biden stated Tuesday he commuted by practice or automobile over the Francis Scott Key Bridge “many, many instances,” regardless of the bridge not having any rail strains.

Throughout a press convention Tuesday on the foremost bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, Biden advised reporters that he has been over the Francis Scott Key Bridge “many, many instances” by practice or automobile.

“At about 1:30 [a.m. Tuesday], a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which I’ve been over many, many instances commuting from the state of Delaware both on a practice or by automobile,” the president stated.

Click on right here to learn extra.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten of Fox Information Digital contributed to this report.

Carnival Cruise Line, which affords voyages out of Baltimore Harbor, stated it’s briefly transferring the Carnival Legend’s operations to Norfolk, Virginia as rescue and remediation efforts proceed following the collapse of the Key Bridge early Tuesday morning.

The vessel is at present on a cruise and is scheduled to return on Sunday.

However reasonably than go up the Chesapeake Bay to Baltimore, it is going to hold a left earlier than heading up the bay, and cruise into Norfolk. Passengers aboard the ship shall be supplied with complimentary bus service again to Baltimore after disembarking the ship.

Legend’s subsequent cruise leaves on March 31, when it is going to embark on a seven-day voyage out of Norfolk, as an alternative of Baltimore. The cruise line stated all company on present and upcoming cruises are being knowledgeable of the change.

“Our ideas stay with the impacted households and first responders in Baltimore,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line stated. “We admire the pledge made by President Biden at this time to dedicate all out there sources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine visitors as quickly as attainable. As these plans are finalized, we are going to replace our future cruise company on after we will return dwelling to Baltimore, however within the meantime, we admire the fast response and assist from officers in Norfolk.”

The U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police introduced they have been suspending the seek for six building employees who went lacking when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the Patapsco River early Tuesday morning.

Throughout a press convention, officers stated they don’t imagine the six building employees can be discovered alive, including they have been suspending search and rescue efforts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Divers are anticipated to reenter the water after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, officers added.

The chilly water temps, low visibility and impending climate situations all factored into the choice to grab search and rescue operations.

“We’re doing our absolute best,” Maryland State Police Col. Roland Butler advised reporters.

He defined that the very last thing he and others wish to do is put divers within the water the place a lot steel and particles from the collapsed bridge now rests.

Butler stated all it takes is one object placing one of many divers and creating further search efforts.

He was requested by reporters about the potential for automobiles being on the bridge when it collapsed and stated, there’s a distinct risk.

Whereas the Maryland Division of Transportation was capable of shut down visitors, Butler stated, it’s attainable a automobile might have been on the bridge, although there isn’t any data at the moment to assist that state of affairs.

He additionally stated there’s a super quantity of particles within the water and containers hanging off the ship. Whereas they have no idea the place the our bodies are, Butler stated they’ll give it their greatest effort to search out the our bodies to offer the households closure.

A Sparrows Level, Maryland, fisherman advised Reuters throughout an interview on Tuesday morning that it was arduous to imagine the Francis Scott Key Bridge was gone, including he thought it was a joke at first.

Capt. Steve Waters of Island Canine Charters is a fisherman out of Sparrows Level, which is on the northern aspect of the Patapsco River, the place the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconnected with land earlier than it collapsed on Tuesday morning.

Waters advised Reuters throughout a video interview that his son was working within the space and despatched him a textual content to see if he heard a noise.

Together with the textual content, Waters’ son despatched him a video of the bridge being hit.

“I believed it was a joke at first as a result of he generally comes up with concepts, and I believed it was one in all his jokes or one thing,” Waters stated.

He then stated it was arduous to imagine the bridge was gone, particularly since it’s used a lot.

The constitution boat captain stated it at all times appeared ships have been going to hit the underside of the bridge whereas vehicles drove over it, however it was by no means as shut because it appeared.

Video taken in the course of the interview exhibits the aftermath of the crash, which Waters says has the waterways just about shut down inside a mile of the accident scene.

Nonetheless, the bridge is essential to the realm, and now that it’s gone, automobiles will both need to go across the Baltimore Beltway or undergo the Baltimore Harbor tunnels.

“That is actually going to sluggish issues down,” he stated.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Singapore-based Synergy Marine PTE Ltd, homeowners of the Dali, issued an announcement in regards to the ship’s collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, confirming the protection of its crew and the 2 pilots, and lack of air pollution.

The assertion confirmed that the ship was underneath pilotage with two pilots on board when it crashed into the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. on March 26.

“All crew members, together with the 2 pilots have been accounted for and there aren’t any studies of any accidents,” the assertion learn. “There has additionally been no air pollution.”

The corporate added that the reason for the incident has but to be decided, and the ship has mobilized its Certified Particular person Incident response service.

“The US Coast Guard and native officers have been notified, and the homeowners and managers are absolutely cooperating with Federal and State authorities businesses underneath an authorized plan,” the corporate stated.

The Maryland Division of Transportation, on Saturday, shared a photograph on social media of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 1977, celebrating the forty seventh anniversary of the bridge.

“The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695) opened to visitors as the ultimate hyperlink in I-695 (the Baltimore Beltway),” the publish learn. “Proven right here throughout its building interval that started in 1972, the 1.6-mile Key Bridge crosses over the Patapsco River.”

The publish continues by noting that students imagine the bridge crosses inside 100 yards of the identical location the place Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry on Sept. 12, 1814.

Secret is credited with writing the phrases of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Simply three days after the image was posted, a container ship collided with the bridge, inflicting it to break down into the river. 

The Dali container ship, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, was flagged for 2 deficiencies between 2015 and 2023, in line with inspection data.

Equasis reported that the Dali had 27 recorded inspections from April 20, 2015 and Sept. 13, 2023, throughout which era there have been two deficiencies discovered.

On Nov. 27, 2016, the data present the ship was flagged for “hull injury impairing seaworthiness,” in Antwerp, Belgium.

Then on June 27, 2023, the ship was flagged for a difficulty categorized underneath propulsion and auxiliary equipment, and sub categorized as “gauges, thermometers, and so forth.”

Throughout two different inspections later that day in San Antonio, Chile, there have been no different deficiencies reported.

The latest inspection carried out on the ship, in line with the data, was completed by the U.S. Coast Guard in New York on Sept. 13, 2023, when no deficiencies have been reported.

Madeleine Rivera of Fox Information contributed to this report.

Tuesday morning’s Baltimore bridge collapse precipitated a transportation catastrophe and a search and rescue effort for building employees who have been current on the bridge on the time of the container ship’s impression. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a significant transportation connector all through the Baltimore space, with greater than 30,000 automobiles touring it each day. 

The place is the bridge situated in Baltimore?

The bridge crosses the Patapsco River on I-695 and serves the Port of Baltimore. It’s situated close to the place Francis Scott Key discovered inspiration for “The Star-Spangled Banner” nationwide anthem, which is how the bridge aptly acquired its identify.

What sort of bridge is the Francis Scott Key Bridge?

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a steel-truss arch bridge. Truss bridges are constructed with linked triangular buildings (trusses). USbridge.com states that this building has a robust load-bearing capability.

In accordance with the American Society of Civil Engineers, this Baltimore bridge is the second-longest truss bridge in america and third longest on the earth. 

In accordance with the Maryland Division of Transportation, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was 1.6 miles lengthy earlier than the collapse. It’s a four-lane bridge construction. Your complete part, together with method roadways, is 10.9 miles lengthy. 

How outdated is the bridge?

Building started on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 1972. The bridge formally opened in March 1977.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has provided to ship a staff to assist with the Nationwide Transportation Security Board’s investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning.

In an announcement, the MPA stated it will be sending a staff of investigators to Maryland.

In the identical assertion, the MPA stated the administration firm of the container ship Dali, Synergy Marine PTE Ltd, reported that simply earlier than the incident, the vessel skilled a lack of propulsion.

The propulsion loss prevented the crew from sustaining course and it collided with the bridge, the assertion defined.

“The vessel was reported to have dropped its anchors as a part of the vessel’s emergency procedures previous to its impression with the bridge,” the assertion learn. “The vessel was underneath

pilotage on the time of the incident.”

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy advised reporters on Tuesday she was involved together with her counterpart at MPA Singapore relating to the bridge crash.

The corporate that employed the development crew engaged on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when it collapsed early Tuesday morning stated all six employees are presumed to be useless, whereas one other was hospitalized, in line with studies.

The Related Press reported that Brawner Builders government vp Jeffrey Pritzker stated the crew was working in the course of the bridge’s span when it was struck and fell into the water.

The our bodies of six employees have but to be recovered, although Pritzker stated they’re presumed to have died because of the depth of the water and period of time that has handed.

He advised the AP the collapse was “utterly unexpected,” and didn’t know what else to say on the matter.

“We take such nice delight in security, and we’ve got cones and indicators and lights and limitations and flaggers,” Pritzker added. “However we by no means foresaw that the bridge would collapse.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated the realm has an extended street forward after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning.

Moore was joined by Nationwide Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Maryland’s U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and others throughout a press convention on Tuesday afternoon.

The governor stated he has been involved with everybody from Biden admin to congressional delegation to philanthropic group which has provided assist.

Nonetheless, he stated the state of affairs on the bridge continues to be very a lot a search and rescue mission, including that the state is not going to maintain again from deploying a single useful resource to assist out with restoration efforts.

Buttigieg referred to the bridge as “one of many cathedrals of American infrastructure, and pressured the significance of reopening Baltimore port as provide chains are anticipated to be impacted.

“The trail to normalcy is not going to be simple. It is not going to be fast. It is not going to be cheap,” Buttigieg stated. “However, we are going to rebuild collectively.”

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has impacted journey alongside Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. The I-695 is a significant route out and in of the port metropolis. 

How will the bridge collapse have an effect on visitors?

Following the incident Tuesday morning of the cargo ship collision with the bridge, Maryland transportation officers introduced a visitors alert to keep away from the I-695. Detours have been carried out for the estimated 31,000 who journey the bridge each day. 

In accordance with Maryland.gov, various Harbor Crossings routes embody the I-95 and I-895 tunnels. River crossings embody the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel on I-95 and the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-895. 

Cruise strains are additionally trying to find various routes. No cruise ships have been in port Tuesday morning, however the impression on the journey plans of the cruise strains that sail from Baltimore is unclear. Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean make the most of the Baltimore port.

How will the bridge collapse have an effect on deliveries?

Sure supply automobiles, together with these transporting hazardous supplies and huge vans, are restricted from many detour routes. Tractor-trailers with clearance to make use of the tunnels shall be inspected for hazardous supplies, which can trigger additional delays. In accordance with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), automobiles carrying hazardous supplies ought to use the western part of I-695. 

Financial disruptions are anticipated for the encircling space and the nation. The port is a significant route for automobile shipments, cargo, farm equipment, agricultural merchandise and extra.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) head advised reporters on Tuesday that earlier than anybody can take into consideration cleansing up the particles from now collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the main target shall be on the households and people impacted by the tragic and devastating occasion.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy gave reporters an replace throughout a press briefing, although she prefaced the briefing by saying she wouldn’t be answering questions on fatalities, deferring these inquiries to native businesses.

As an alternative, she stated the NTSB will step again to permit the Coast Guard and others concerned in search and rescue efforts after the foremost bridge was struck by a container ship and collapsed at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Homendy stated a staff of consultants will examine all the pieces main as much as the crash, together with nautical operations, vessel operations, security historical past, the ships security report, proprietor operations, firm coverage, security administration, human efficiency, engineering, survival elements and extra.

She additionally stated the freeway security staff and structural engineers will help with the investigation.

A household help staff shall be on web site to assist households, mates and family members, of these affected by the collapse.

“This can be a staff effort,” Homendy stated, including there have been a variety of entities within the command publish.

So far as the variety of vehicles and employees on the bridge on the time of the collapse, Homendy stated that data must be verified.

She stated she doesn’t imagine anybody is considering the following steps of cleansing up the bridge and getting the delivery route reopened. As an alternative, Homendy stated, this was about households.

“No one goes by a quantity,” she stated. “They’re simply trying and looking out.”

Homendy advised reporters she was not conscious of the bridge being flagged for security deficiencies prior to now, although the investigation will look into that. She additionally stated, although, that the investigation within the bridge’s historical past might take at the least two years and won’t be verified on the scene.

Nonetheless, Homendy stated there was not a variety of data to offer on the time of the presser, as she and her staff solely simply received there.

“Actually, the main target is on the households,” she stated.

The FBI stated on Tuesday that there isn’t any particular and credible data suggesting the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in a single day was tied to terrorism.

“Our hearts exit to everybody impacted by this tragedy, particularly to the victims and their households,” he stated. “On behalf of the FBI, I wish to say we’re with you and with the households concerned.”

The container ship Dali issued a mayday after dropping energy, earlier than colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Authorities have stated a crew of eight building employees have been on the bridge on the time of the collapse.

Search and Rescue efforts are underway, as rescuer scramble to search out a number of individuals who stay lacking.

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge
was gone in a flash early Tuesday after a cargo ship collided with one in all its pillars, snapping the construction into items and sending it tumbling into the water under.

As rescuers scramble to search out a number of individuals who stay lacking and because the particulars stay unclear, consultants weigh what might have probably precipitated the disaster. One structural engineer – John Pistorino – says he is “stunned” the ship was capable of take down the construction in any respect.

“At this level, I am stunned {that a} container ship like that, which is so giant, would be capable of [take it down] even when it is off track,” he stated on “Fox & Mates” Tuesday.

“Again over in Tampa, we do have some means underwater now, so if the ship does get out of its personal route, it is going to divert it away from the important elements of the bridge. There’s underwater buildings that the ship would come throughout earlier than it really received to the bridge itself,” he continued, referencing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that noticed an analogous catastrophe within the Tampa Bay space a long time in the past.

Persevering with on that observe, Pistorino outlined the necessity for “redundancy” in bridge building. 

Redundancy, in line with the American Institute of Metal Building, is “the standard of a bridge that allows it to carry out its design operate in a broken state” and is taken into account a “desired attribute of fine design.”

Pistorino stated the standard is one thing defective bridges have lacked prior to now.

“If we lose the important a part of one column, the construction itself tries to redistribute the load after which goes to the opposite column, which is seemingly then overloaded… That is the character of the buildings,” he defined.

“It could possibly be a cash factor, however I believe, actually, that the design of the redundancy can be one thing that ought to at all times be thought of.”

Fox Information Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this replace.

President Biden on Tuesday stated the federal authorities will step in to “rebuild” the Port of Baltimore after a cargo ship accident precipitated the Francis Scott Key Bridge to break down. 

In short remarks on the White Home, the president stated he pledged “all of the federal sources they want” to Gov. Wes Moore and different Maryland officers to get better from the catastrophe. 

“Our prayers are with everybody concerned on this horrible accident and all of the households, particularly these ready for information of their liked one proper now. I do know each minute in that circumstance looks like a lifetime. I simply do not know. It is simply horrible,” Biden stated.

The president stated an ongoing search and rescue operation stays the federal government’s “high precedence.” He famous that ship visitors within the port has been suspended and can’t resume till bridge particles is cleared — an effort led by the Military Corps of Engineers. 

Biden known as the Port of Baltimore “one of many nation’s largest delivery hubs,” noting that about 850,000 automobiles journey by means of the port yearly. “15,000 jobs rely on that port. We’ll do all the pieces we will to guard these jobs and assist these employees,” Biden stated.

Requested if Synergy Marine Group, the corporate that manages the ship, known as the Dali, needs to be held chargeable for the injury, Biden stated it “could possibly be.” 

“However we’re not going to attend for that to occur,” the president stated. “We’ll pay for it and get the bridge rebuilt and open.” 

Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl de Sousa warned of incalculable “collateral injury” from the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe on “America’s Newsroom” on Tuesday.

The bridge collapsed after a cargo ship rammed into one in all its assist piers. De Sousa famous that as many as 35,000 individuals used the bridge every day, to not point out ships that cross underneath it to entry the port in Baltimore Harbor.

“It is simply going to trigger a lot collateral injury, you understand, for the delivery trade,” de Sousa stated. “The injury is — you possibly can’t even calculate proper now.” 

Maryland officers stated the bridge collapse will create a transportation nightmare for months, if not years, alongside the East Coast. Ship visitors on the Port of Baltimore has been disrupted, to not point out cargo and commuter visitors across the metropolis.

“Dropping this bridge will devastate all the space, in addition to all the East Coast,” state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling advised the Related Press.

The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge alongside I-695 in Maryland into the Baltimore harbor following a “ship strike” early Tuesday morning is anticipated to trigger main financial disruptions
to the realm and throughout the nation. 

The port, a significant route for delivery containers and cruise liners, is the deepest harbor in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, nearer to the Midwest than different East Coast ports, with 5 public and 12 non-public terminals, in line with the Maryland authorities web site. 

The I-695 can also be a important hyperlink for trucking and motor automobiles linking Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York and the catastrophe comes forward of the upcoming Easter Weekend.

The port is the busiest within the U.S. for automobile shipments, dealing with greater than 750,000 automobiles in 2023, in line with knowledge from the Maryland Port Administration. It is usually the most important U.S. port by quantity for dealing with farm and building equipment, in addition to agricultural merchandise.

It dealt with a report quantity of cargo final yr, making it the twentieth largest port within the nation ranked by whole tons, in line with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Chloe Demrovsky, the manager in residence in international financial system at New York College, tells Fox Information Digital that the port has grown considerably during the last 25 years and the bridge collapse goes to have a devastating impression on the realm. 

“For the reason that widening of deepening of the Panama Canal in 2016, it simply turned that rather more essential and able to docking a few of these actually giant container ships popping out of Asia that might now come by means of the Panama Canal and go to Baltimore,” Demrovsky stated.

“And from there they’ll join with the essential trucking routes to service not simply the entire nation, however particularly the very busy jap hall. So it turned a extremely strategically essential space for transferring a variety of items.”

FOX Enterprise’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this replace.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, sending rescue employees right into a frenzy to search out anybody who could have fallen into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River.

The Baltimore Ravens
launched an announcement, sending out their condolences to anybody who was affected by the stunning collapse.

“Our hearts exit to those that have been affected by the horrific Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early this morning,” the staff stated in an announcement posted to X.

“We’re grateful for the primary responders and native leaders who’re on scene to steer the search and rescue efforts and to assist these households who’ve been most immediately impacted.

“We all know that the Baltimore group will stand collectively within the aftermath of this tragic occasion.”

A livestream of the bridge appeared to indicate a cargo ship colliding with a assist beam, inflicting the bridge to interrupt aside and fall into the Patapsco River. Officers stated a number of individuals have been lacking and a number of automobiles have been on the bridge on the time it fell.

The water under the bridge is about 50 ft deep, and the water temperature was about 47 levels in the course of the pre-dawn collapse.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore advised reporters the crew on the ship despatched a mayday sign moments earlier than impression with the bridge. Moore stated the warning gave authorities sufficient time to cease further visitors from crossing the bridge, saving lives.

Fox Information Digital’s Ryan Gaydos contributed to this replace.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge’s collapse was all however inevitable as soon as a cargo ship rammed into one of many bridge’s primary helps, in line with one knowledgeable.

Stunning video exhibits the second the bridge seems to snap and collapse into the Patapsco River. Maryland officers have stated there was no structural points and that the bridge was absolutely as much as code. 

“A part of the issue was this was an enormous tanker ship. It was not solely carrying a really heavy load, however it was additionally not simply huge, it was tall as nicely. So it was virtually the peak of the bridge,” stated Dr. Ron Harichandran, dean of the Tagliatela School of Engineering at College of New Haven. 

Harichandran, a civil engineer, advised Fox Information Digital the cargo ship destroyed one of many concrete piers that supported the bridge, sealing its destiny.

“If it had in a roundabout way hit that and if it had hit between the piers, the bridge could not have utterly collapsed as a result of bridges are designed to have some redundancy. However in case you hit one in all its primary assist buildings, then it’s extremely troublesome for it to outlive,” he defined. 

Fashionable designs have a form of “bumper system” across the pier supposed to soak up a possible impression, in line with Harichandran.

“However once more, you understand, these can face up to restricted quantities of impression, however it’s one thing so large when it comes to cargo vessel. Nothing could possibly be designed to resist one thing as giant as that.” 

The crew of the cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore misplaced energy and issued a mayday within the moments earlier than the catastrophe, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated.

The container ship Dali despatched the mayday in time for authorities to cease visitors from getting into the bridge, limiting the variety of automobiles concerned in what officers have known as a “mass casualty occasion.” 

“We’re grateful that between the mayday and the collapse that we had officers who have been capable of start to cease the stream of visitors so extra vehicles weren’t on the bridge,” Moore stated. 

Authorities stated a crew of eight building employees have been on the bridge, along with any visitors on the time of the collapse. 

Search and rescue operations pulled two employees from the water, one in important situation who was hospitalized. Efforts to find the opposite six are ongoing.

Authorities stated that sonar had detected vehicles within the water, which is about 50 ft deep. The temperature was about 47 levels Fahrenheit earlier than daybreak on Tuesday, in line with a buoy that collects knowledge for the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Moore stated an investigation is ongoing to find out how many individuals have been caught within the collapse and plunged into the river. 

“However the factor we do know is that lots of the automobiles have been stopped earlier than they received onto the bridge, which saved lives in a really, very heroic means.” 

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., advised reporters he spoke to the Division of Transportation and that the Biden administration will commit emergency funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe.

Van Hollen stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated the division “will do all the pieces they’ll to in a short time launch emergency funds for this essential venture.”

“Our hearts exit to all those that are on the bridge and their family members. We pray for them. Our gratitude goes out to the primary responders who, as we communicate, are persevering with to conduct search and rescue operations,” Van Hollen stated. 

The Nationwide Freeway Transportation Administration administrator will journey to Baltimore to supervise launch of these funds, in line with the senator. 

Moreover, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board will conduct an investigation into the bridge collapse.

In the meantime, the Military Corps of Engineers and its naval belongings will help with under the floor clearing of Baltimore Harbor, Van Hollen stated. 

High Maryland officers offered an replace on the investigation and rescue efforts after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore on Tuesday

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and state regulation enforcement and transportation officers spoke to reporters in regards to the standing of search and rescue efforts and the investigation after a cargo ship struck the bridge, inflicting it to plummet into Baltimore Harbor.

“Our response groups are doing all the pieces in our energy to rescue and get better the victims of this collapse,” Moore stated. 

“The preliminary investigation factors to an accident,” he stated.

Eight employees contracted with the Maryland Division of Transportation Secretary to repair potholes on the bridge have been working on the time of its collapse, in line with DOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. Two of them have been pulled from the water, one in important situation who has been hospitalized. The opposite is just not within the hospital. 

Six employees stay unaccounted for and are being looked for, Wiedefeld stated.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

The mayor’s declaration took impact at 9:00 a.m. ET and can unlock further powers to reply to the disaster.

“Baltimore, I’m formally declaring an area state of emergency in response to the collapse of our Key Bridge,” Scott stated in an announcement. “Our groups are mobilizing sources and dealing swiftly to handle this disaster and make sure the security and well-being of our group.”

Officers will quickly ship an replace on search and rescue efforts in Baltimore Harbor.

A container ship struck one of many bridge’s helps within the early morning on Tuesday, inflicting the bridge to snap and plunge into the Patapsco River. A number of automobiles and employees have been on the bridge on the time of its collapse. 

The U.S. Coast Guard and a number of other regulation enforcement businesses are taking part in search and rescue operations. Two individuals have been pulled from the water, one in important situation, officers stated. 

Fireplace Chief James Wallace stated authorities “could also be searching for upwards of seven individuals” however stated that quantity might change and different officers would not give figures. It was not clear if the 2 rescued have been included within the seven cited by the hearth chief.

The Related Press contributed to this replace.

Congress could possibly be requested to approve emergency supplemental cash to take care of the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe in Baltimore.

Let historical past be our information. 

In 2007, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota in collapsed underneath its personal weight. The disaster killed 13 individuals and damage 145. President George W. Bush approved a catastrophe declaration. That enabled FEMA to start to cowl the hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in price incurred each day coping with the aftermath of the bridge. 

A number of days later, the President authorization an emergency declaration for Minnesota. That allowed the state to get better prices from the federal authorities and start to take away particles from the scene. That is is form of what FEMA does within the aftermath of a twister or hurricane. So, primarily based on the earlier mannequin, count on FEMA to play a significant function on this. 

The late Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) was chairman of the Home Transportation on the Committee on the time. Though the bridge was not in Oberstar’s district, he was capable of muscle by means of an emergency appropriation of $250 million to the state division of transportation to start rebuilding the bridge.

The brand new I-35W bridge opened a bit greater than a yr after the collapse.

Contemplating the quantity of commerce which funnels by means of the Port of Baltimore – to say nothing of visitors and commerce which strikes throughout the Francis Scott Key Bridge as a significant east coast artery – it’s attainable Congress could possibly be known as upon to offer funding to rebuild the bridge in report time. 

Fox has spoken with Congressional leaders and aides about the potential for Congressional motion. Granted, it is extremely early within the aftermath. Lawmakers are considering what they might must do. However Fox is advised the mannequin could possibly be how Congress responded to the I-35W bridge catastrophe 17 years in the past

Maryland state Senator Johnny Salling stated the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse is a “devastating” blow to Baltimore County. 

Salling, a Republican whose district incorporates the bridge, advised “Fox & Mates” the port of Baltimore relies on transportation that has been disrupted since by the collapse.

“We have now truck, rail, barge and ship that are available in right here, consistently. And now the Patapsco River, as you see, is an asset to us and dropping this bridge goes to be devastating to, not simply the port, however the Delmarva space,” Salling stated. 

Salling stated this “catastrophic occasion” will “change the entire space of Baltimore.” 

He known as on federal, state and native authorities to accomplice collectively to revive entry to the port and forestall an analogous incident sooner or later. 

“It breaks my coronary heart. I take into consideration all these which might be affected and that shall be affected by this. You consider the automobiles that have been going throughout there, the employees that have been engaged on there. The people who rely on it, and you concentrate on the households. My coronary heart and my prayers exit to those households,” Salling stated. 

The large container ship that smashed into a high traffic bridge in Baltimore, Maryland
, this morning has beforehand collided with infrastructure whereas docking, in line with studies.

Container ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, collapsing a portion of the bridge and leading to what authorities suspect is a mass casualty occasion.

In accordance with earlier studies, this isn’t the primary time Dali has struck metropolis infrastructure whereas transporting items — an analogous however far much less severe incident was reported in 2016, in line with contemporaneous studies.

Dali collided with a stone wall at a dock in Antwerp, Belgium, within the afternoon of July 11, 2016, in line with a Maritime Information report.

The container ship suffered injury and was docked for repairs, however nobody was injured within the collision, in line with The New York Instances.

The Tuesday incident was much more lethal, in line with officers coordinating catastrophe response.

Fox Enterprise’ Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this replace.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse precipitated main visitors disruptions and compelled detours into and out of Baltimore Tuesday morning.

The bridge carried visitors alongside I-695 throughout the Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor and at 1.6 miles was the second longest bridge within the Baltimore metropolitan space, after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. 

The Maryland Transportation Authority stated alternate routes to cross the harbor shall be I-95 or I-895 tunnels. Autos transporting hazardous supplies, like giant portions of propane, are prohibited in tunnels and will use the western part of I-695, the authority stated. 

Residents have been instructed to keep away from all the I-695 southeast hall as rescue operations are underway on the bridge.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld stated all vessel visitors into and out of the port can be suspended till additional discover, although the ability was nonetheless open to vans.

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and stated he was working to get federal sources deployed. The FBI was on the scene, however Wiedefeld stated terrorism was not suspected. President Biden was briefed.

The Related Press contributed to this replace.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
(R) stated his state “stands prepared to help and assist our neighbor Maryland” after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday morning.

“Our prayers are with the households affected and the brave rescue efforts underway following the tragic incident at Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Youngkin posted on X.

The bridge alongside I-695 collapsed into the Baltimore harbor early Tuesday morning after a “ship strike,” Maryland officers stated. The cargo ship that hit the bridge seems to be the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship. 

The ship is managed by the Synergy Group, a Singapore-based firm.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated he has declared a State of Emergency and has been involved with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Fireplace Division and different officers following the tragedy.

“I’ve declared a State of Emergency right here in Maryland and we’re working with an interagency staff to rapidly deploy federal sources from the Biden Administration,” Moore stated.

He added, “We’re grateful for the courageous women and men who’re finishing up efforts to rescue these concerned and pray for everybody’s security.”

Former Navy SEAL rescue diver Jake Zweig joined “Fox & Mates” Tuesday morning to debate the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse as search and rescue operations are underway in Baltimore, Maryland.

Two individuals have been rescued from the water, one in important situation, in line with officers. Zweig stated the large query going through U.S. Coast Guard personnel and different first responders is whether or not anybody might survive for a number of hours after their vehicles plummeted into Baltimore Harbor. 

“I’ll be sincere with you, there’s not a variety of hope in my thoughts at this level. It is a restoration operation,” Zweig stated.

Baltimore Fireplace Chief James Wallace stated authorities “could also be searching for upwards of seven individuals” however stated that quantity might change and different officers would not give figures. It was not clear if the 2 rescued have been included within the seven cited by the hearth chief.

Authorities stated a crew of unknown measurement was engaged on the bridge on the time of the collapse and that sonar had detected vehicles within the water, which is about 50 ft deep. The water temperature was about 47 levels Fahrenheit  earlier than daybreak Tuesday, in line with a buoy that collects knowledge for the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Related Press contributed to this replace.

Candidates operating for U.S. Senate in Maryland gave statements of assist to first responders working on the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday.

“We’re heartbroken by the tragedy on the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan posted on X. “Yumi and I are praying for these lacking and their family members, and ask all Marylanders to maintain them in your ideas.” 

“We’re extremely grateful for the primary responders and rescue groups working to avoid wasting lives,” added Hogan.

Rep. David Trone, D-Md., one of many two main Democrats operating for his or her get together’s Senate nomination within the Might 14 major, additionally issued an announcement calling it a “devastating tragedy.” 

“Our hearts exit to those that have been on the bridge on the time of collapse and their households,” Trone stated. “We’re grateful to the unimaginable emergency responders who’re preventing valiantly to rescue survivors.”

“Baltimore is a metropolis identified for its resilience, and we should all now rally round Baltimore as town begins to heal, rebuild and transfer ahead,” Trone continued. 

“I’m grateful for Governor Moore’s management and can work carefully with my colleagues in Congress and throughout Maryland to indicate up for Baltimore and our state in any means attainable.”

Fox Information Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this replace.

State contractors working for the Maryland Division of Transportation have been on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the time of its collapse, Maryland officers stated Tuesday.

“We all know there have been people on the bridge on the time of the collapse engaged on the bridge, contractors for us,” stated Paul Wiedefeld, secretary for the Maryland Division of Transportation. The employees have been doing concrete duct restore, he stated. 

The bridge collapsed into Baltimore Harbor early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship struck one in all its assist beams. Rescue and restoration operations are underway, with officers trying to find “upwards of seven individuals,” in line with Baltimore Fireplace Chief James Wallace. 

Two individuals have been pulled out of the water, one in important situation, Wallace stated earlier.

The U.S. Coast Guard is on the scene conducting rescue operations with a number of regulation enforcement businesses. 

“The Coast Guard’s major mission proper now could be search and rescue, searching for any survivors within the water,” stated Lt. Commander Erin Palmer. 

Palmer stated the Coast Guard has three small boats and an 87-foot patrol boat, Mako, on the scene. There may be additionally a helicopter from air station Atlantic Metropolis helping federal, state and native companions on scene with search and rescue operations, Palmer stated. 

A facility with psychological well being professionals has been arrange for members of the family, Wiedefeld stated. 

FBI Baltimore personnel are on the scene and helping with first responders on the web site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated Tuesday.

The FBI investigated if there was any terrorism connection to the catastrophe, which there’s not, Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld advised reporters at a press convention.

A number of regulation enforcement businesses are concerned in rescue operations for what officers have known as a “mass casualty occasion” after a cargo ship struck a assist beam underneath the bridge, inflicting it to break down. There have been a number of automobiles on the bridge.

“By no means would you suppose that you’d see, bodily see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It appeared like one thing out of an motion film,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott stated, calling it an “unthinkable tragedy.” 

Baltimore Fireplace Chief James Wallace advised reporters that two individuals have been pulled from the bridge, one in severe situation. He stated authorities “could also be searching for upwards of seven individuals,” however that quantity might change. 

Sonar has indicated that there are automobiles within the water, the place the temperature was about 47 levels Fahrenheit within the early hours of Tuesday, in line with a buoy that collects knowledge for the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Earlier, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fireplace Division, advised The Related Press that a number of automobiles have been on the bridge on the time, together with one the dimensions of a tractor-trailer truck.

The Related Press contributed to this replace.

The White Home is carefully monitoring the collision of a delivery vessel with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore that precipitated the bridge to break down, an official advised Fox Information Digital.

The White Home official stated there isn’t any indication of any nefarious menace concerned within the catastrophe. 

“Our hearts exit to the households of those that stay lacking on account of this horrific incident,” the official stated.

The U.S. Coast Guard is helping with search and rescue operations for many who stay unaccounted for within the catastrophe, in line with the White Home.

Senior White Home officers are in contact with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott to supply any federal help they might want, the official stated.

First responders have pulled two individuals out of the water to this point, one in important situation. Officers have described the collapse as a “mass casualty occasion” and rescue operations are persevering with. 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland is situated about 50 miles north east of Washington, D.C., alongside I-695. 

Fox Information Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this replace.

First responders have been capable of pull two individuals from the water after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Maryland Tuesday morning.

Baltimore Fireplace Chief James Wallace advised reporters one was in severe situation and the opposite was not significantly injured. 

Wallace stated authorities “could also be searching for upwards of seven individuals” however he stated that quantity might change.

The bridge collapsed after a cargo ship appeared to crash into one of many helps, in line with a video posted on X, previously often called Twitter. The ship caught hearth, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fireplace Division, described the catastrophe as a “dire emergency.” He advised the Related Press it was too early to say how many individuals have been affected however known as the collapse a “creating mass casualty occasion.” 

Wallace stated there are a number of air belongings, the Baltimore Police Division, and a number of marine belongings responding to the scene to conduct rescue operations. 

“We’re nonetheless very a lot in lively search and rescue at this level,” Wallace stated. 

The Related Press contributed to this replace.

The water temperature was within the low 40s Tuesday morning when the Francis Scott Key Bridge alongside I-695 in Maryland collapsed into the Baltimore Harbor after a cargo ship struck it. 

Rescue efforts stay underway for at the least 20 individuals believed to be within the water, the Baltimore Fireplace Division advised the Related Press at round 3:00 a.m. ET. Officers have described the bridge collapse as a mass casualty occasion. There isn’t a official dying toll identified at the moment. 

An individual uncovered to chilly water temperatures for a chronic time period dangers affected by hypothermia. When the water temperature is between 40-50 levels, exhaustion or unconsciousness can occur inside 30-60 minutes. The anticipated survival time for somebody uncovered to these situations is between one to 3 hours. 

“Our focus proper now could be making an attempt to rescue and get better these individuals,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fireplace Division, advised The Related Press. 

Fox Information’ Janice Dean and the Related Press contributed to this replace.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stated he has declared a State of Emergency and has been involved with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Fireplace Division and different officers after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed within the state when a ship collided into it Tuesday morning.

“My workplace is in shut communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Government Johnny Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fireplace Division as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Moore stated in an announcement.

“I’ve declared a State of Emergency right here in Maryland and we’re working with an interagency staff to rapidly deploy federal sources from the Biden Administration,” he continued.

Moore added, “We’re grateful for the courageous women and men who’re finishing up efforts to rescue these concerned and pray for everybody’s security.”

“We’ll stay in shut contact with federal, state, and native entities which might be finishing up rescue efforts as we proceed to evaluate and reply to this tragedy,” he stated.

The ship that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, inflicting a collapse, seems to be the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship.

The ship is managed by the Synergy Group, a Singapore-based firm.

Fox Information’ Liz Friden contributed to this report.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated he’s providing assist from the division after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday morning as a consequence of a ship colliding with it.

Buttigieg stated he spoke with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott in regards to the incident.

“I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to supply USDOT’s assist following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge,” he wrote on X. “Rescue efforts stay underway and drivers within the Baltimore space ought to comply with native responder steering on detours and response.”

The Maryland Transportation Authority stated on social media that each one lanes have been closed in each instructions and that visitors is being detoured after the Key Bridge collapsed
as a consequence of a “ship strike.”

MDTA stated to keep away from the I-695 southeast hall and to as an alternative Use I-95 or I-895.

It additionally stated alternate routes for Harbor Crossings shall be on I-95 or I-895 tunnels. Autos transporting hazardous supplies, together with propane of greater than 10 kilos, are prohibited in tunnels and will use the western part of I-695 round tunnels.

Baltimore mayor Brandon M. Scott stated Tuesday morning he was headed to the Francis Scott Key Bridge alongside I-695 in Maryland after it collapsed into the Baltimore harbor.

The mayor stated he has been involved with Gov. Wes Moore and officers with the hearth division and different businesses.

Officers have described this as a mass casualty occasion after a ship collided with the bridge.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge alongside I-695 in Maryland collapsed into the Baltimore harbor early Tuesday morning following a “ship strike,” Maryland transportation officers stated.

A livestream of the bridge appeared to indicate a cargo ship colliding with a assist beam, inflicting the bridge to interrupt and fall into the Patapsco River. A number of automobiles have been on the bridge on the time.

Emergency crews have been trying to find at the least seven individuals believed to be within the water, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fireplace Division, advised The Related Press round 3 a.m. Officers have described this as a mass casualty occasion. There have been no particular variety of deceased.