‘Mass casualty’ event in Baltimore after major bridge struck by Singapore-flagged ship
Up to 20 people are feared to be in the water, says the Baltimore Fire Department.
26 Mar 2024
WASHINGTON: A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday (Mar 26) after being struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship, sending multiple vehicles and up to 20 people plunging into the harbour below.
Two survivors have been pulled out of the harbour so far with one in a «very serious condition», rescuers said.
A live video posted on YouTube showed a ship hitting the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after which several of its spans collapsed into the river.
Lights from what appear to be vehicles can be seen on the road surface as the bridge warps and crashes in sections, with the third tranche cantilevering upwards before it, too, tumbles into the water.
Several small explosions can also be seen.
«Unfortunately, we understand that there were up to 20 individuals who may be in the Patapsco River right now as well as multiple vehicles,» Kevin Cartwright of the Baltimore Fire Department told CNN.
«So we have … a mass-casualty multi-agency incident underway.
«We understand that there could have potentially been a vehicle, a tractor trailer or a vehicle as large as a tractor trailer on the bridge at the time that it collapsed.»
The footage appeared to show the ship going dark twice in the moments before the collision, with thick black smoke issuing from the ship’s funnel, possibly indicating activity from the engine.
Citing an unclassified US intelligence report, ABC News reported that the ship «lost propulsion» as it was leaving port.
«The vessel notified (Maryland) Department of Transportation that they had lost control of the vessel and (a) collision with the bridge was possible,» ABC quoted the report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as saying.
«The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.»
A huge emergency response swung into action after the collision, which happened around 1.30am local time (5.30am GMT), with first response vehicles crowding the shoreline.
Divers were in the water looking for survivors, Cartwright said.
CNN reported that water temperatures were around 8.8 degrees Celsius, complicating search and rescue efforts and narrowing the window of survivability for anyone in the water.
Photographs from the scene show debris from the bridge resting on the deck of the ship, where containers were stacked several high.
Reports suggested some of the containers were unstable, complicating rescue efforts.
«This is a very devastating incident which these individuals have encountered so our hearts go out to each and every one of them and we will be working valiantly throughout the early morning and day to address this,» said Cartwright.
Ship tracking data from LSEG shows a Singapore-flagged container ship, the Dali, at the location along the Key Bridge where the accident occurred. The registered owner of the ship is Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and the manager is Synergy Marine Group, LSEG data shows.
Synergy Marine Corp said that a Singapore-flagged container ship Dali collided with one of the pillars of the bridge and that all its crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.
In a media release on Tuesday evening Singapore time, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) also confirmed that the incident involved the Dali.
MPA added that it is «in contact with the US Coast Guard and the ship management company to provide the necessary assistance».
«As the flag state, MPA will provide full cooperation to the US Coast Guard in its investigations,» the authority said. «MPA will also be investigating the incident.»
MPA said that the vessel was «operating with 22 crew on board at the time of the incident».
A Maersk spokesperson told Reuters the vessel was not owned by Maersk, but was chartered by the shipping company at the time of the accident.
«We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,» Maersk said.
The vessel was scheduled to sail on shipping company Maersk’s route to Sri Lanka, the Danish company’s website showed.
CNA could not immediately reach Grace Ocean for comment but has contacted Synergy Marine for more information.
«SOUND OF THUNDER»
A man who identified himself as a former Baltimore fire department worker said he could see the bridge from his bedroom window.
«We were awakened by what appeared to be an earthquake and a long, rolling sound of thunder,» he told local media.
«I saw some emergency lights in the area and decided to drive up … what was in progress was a multi-jurisdictional response to a disaster.»
It was not immediately clear if the Baltimore port operations were impacted due to the bridge collapse.
The port’s private and public terminals handled 847,158 autos and light trucks in 2023, the most of any US port. The port also handles farm and construction machinery, sugar, gypsum and coal, according to a Maryland government website.
The 2.6km-long, four-lane bridge spans the Patapsco River southwest of municipal Baltimore.
It opened in 1977 and carries more than 11 million vehicles a year, or about 31,000 a day.
It is a major part of the road network around Baltimore, an industrial city on the US East Coast next to the capital Washington.
The Maryland Transportation Authority told drivers to avoid the bridge, part of the I-695 interstate highway, which it called an «active scene».
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr both said they were aware of the incident and that rescue efforts were underway.
«Please pray for those impacted,» Olszewski posted on X.
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on social media that he was in contact with the mayor of Baltimore and the governor of Maryland, and had offered federal help.
Source: Agencies/ec
