Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a large cargo ship. The 1.6-mile, four-lane bridge spans over the Patapsco River, serving as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor. It’s also an essential link of the Interstate-695 or the Baltimore Beltway.
According to public affairs officer Kimberly Reaves of the US Coast Guard’s 5th District, the vessel that hit the bridge was identified as a container ship, the DALI. “The 948-foot container ship Dali, hit the Francis Scott Key bridge” at 1:27 a.m. ET “and it subsequently collapsed,” Reaves said in a statement.
The ship is around 300 meters (984 feet) long with a width of around 48 meters (157 feet), according to MarineTraffic data.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) responded to the emergency as reports of vehicles submerged in the water emerged. Reaves said that the Coast Guard has deployed “multiple” response units for a search and rescue mission.
“Coast Guard units on scene include small boats from Station Annapolis and Station Curtis Bay and a helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City,” the statement read.
Reaves said that multiple state and local agencies are assisting. Casualties are yet to be ascertained.
For the search and rescue mission units, freezing conditions and limited visibility at the site posed a challenge as a search was on for at least 20 people who fell in the water.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department, told CNN that the US Coast Guard and a team of divers are working in tandem as the temperatures around the port were recorded at around 30 °F (-1°C).
“This happened at 01:30 a.m. with limited visibility so we are working aggressively, considering the environmental temperatures as well as the water temperatures to try and rescue and perhaps recover individuals,” Cartwright said.
“It feels like at least about 30 degrees (-1°C) where I am. It could be slightly lower than that. And I’m sure that the water temperature is even colder… And that can pose a concern and risk for our divers.”
Cartwright said the teams were working “methodically and safely” to ensure “everyone operating here on the scene is safe and that we’re able to make progress without causing adverse harm to anyone else.”
Cartwright said that the condition of collapsed bridge will be investigated. “This bridge has been in place for quite some time and has served many, many commuters in the Baltimore metropolitan area. So as the investigation ensues, there will be structural engineers involved to try and assess what the condition of the bridge is,” Cartwright said.
Speaking to BBC, Ian Firth, a structural engineer and bridge designer, said that the bridge “is a very, relatively, flimsy structure when you look at it, it’s a kind of trestle structure with individual legs”, he says. “So, the bridge has collapsed simply as a result of this very large impact force.”
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