Rescuers in Baltimore are searching for survivors after a freight train crashed into a bridge, sending about 20 people and several vehicles into the river. Two people have been pulled from the water, one of them seriously injured.
At about 1:30 a.m. on March 26 (US time, or 1:30 p.m. the same day Vietnam time), a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Key Bridge) in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship, causing about 20 people and many vehicles on the bridge to fall into the river.
LSEG ship tracking data shows that the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and operated by Synergy Marine Group, collided with one of the bridge piers. All crew members are safe.
A video taken from a camera operated by Bay Area Mechanical Services shows the ship turning around before hitting one of the bridge’s two central pillars at 1:28 a.m. on March 26. The entire span fell into the water in about 20 seconds, with some of it landing on the bow of the ship. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd said the cause of the collision was still unknown and that it was cooperating with authorities.
The Coast Guard said it had deployed several small boats and a helicopter for search and rescue efforts, according to the New York Times. Fire departments used sonar to detect vehicles that had fallen into the water. The water in Baltimore Harbor is currently about 9 degrees Celsius, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Dali caught fire and sank after the collision. According to VesselFinder, a ship tracking website, the Dali was on a 27-day journey to Sri Lanka (expected to arrive there on April 22). The ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge 30 minutes after departure.
On its X website, the Maryland Transportation Authority said that following the collision that led to the bridge collapse, all lanes were closed in both directions and traffic was being diverted.
“This is a multi-agency, multi-casualty event and the rescue operation is expected to last several days,” said Baltimore Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency.
At nearly 2 miles long, the Key Bridge is the longest bridge in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The bridge opened in March 1977 and carries about 11.5 million vehicles a year. According to the Times, the bridge cost $141 million to build, which is about $735 million in today’s dollars.
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