Addis Ababa, March 26, 2024(Addis Walta) The Francis Scott Key Bridge − a major span critical to East Coast shipping − collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response for at least seven people, including possible construction workers, believed to be in the water.
James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, said at a news conference that around 1:30 a.m. a vessel leaving the Port of Baltimore struck the Key Bridge, causing the collapse. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of impact and were plunged into the Patapsco River.
Multiple contractors on the bridge were working on “concrete deck” repairs, said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. It’s unclear how many workers were on the bridge when it collapsed.
According to USA Today, Wallace said two people were rescued in the initial hours of the search. One was unharmed and the other remains in “very serious condition,” he said. At least seven people were believed to be in the water, though, Wallace noted, it’s unclear whether that number includes the two who were rescued.
The crew that was on the ship when it collided with the bridge remains on the vessel, which needs to be assessed for damage before rescuers can board it, Wallace said.