After the collapse of a highway bridge in the city of Baltimore, US authorities have ceased the search for six missing individuals. Authorities continue to believe that the incident was an accident.
US Authorities Confirm Six Deaths
After the collapse of a highway bridge in the city of Baltimore, US authorities have ceased the search for six missing individuals. Authorities continue to believe that the incident was an accident.
Following the collapse of a major highway bridge in the state of Maryland, US authorities have confirmed the deaths of six missing persons. The US Coast Guard announced in the evening that the active search for survivors would be suspended. Due to the water temperature, after many hours have passed, it is unlikely that anyone will be found alive.
A Coast Guard representative stated that due to the dangerous currents and debris in the water, they did not want to jeopardize the safety of rescue workers.
Hours-long Search for Survivors
A massive container ship collided with the four-lane, over 2.5-kilometer-long bridge on Tuesday night, causing its collapse. Police and rescue teams conducted aerial and underwater searches for multiple missing persons for many hours following the incident, utilizing divers as well as infrared and sonar technology.
The six missing individuals were part of a construction crew assigned to fill potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the night of the accident, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld stated. The Guatemalan consulate in Maryland confirmed that two of the missing persons were Guatemalan citizens.
Jeffrey Pritzker, Deputy General Manager of Brawner Builders, mentioned that the employees of his company were working in the middle of the bridge when it collapsed. While safety measures such as barriers, cones, signs, and lights were in place, nobody anticipated a bridge collapse. Pritzker expressed, “This was completely unforeseen.”
Jesus Campos, who worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knew members of the affected team, shared that he heard the missing persons were taking a break and some were sitting in their trucks when the incident occurred. “Imagine knowing you are falling. It’s so difficult. You don’t know what to do.”
No Evidence of Foul Play
According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the container ship sailing under the flag of Singapore was approaching the Francis Scott Key Bridge at a rapid speed of eight knots. Authorities reported no indications of intentional wrongdoing or terrorism. The consensus was that the incident was an accident.
The ship named “Dali”, measuring nearly 290 meters, was en route from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, as reported by the “New York Times” citing the US Coast Guard.
Crew Managed to Send Distress Signal
Initial findings suggested a power issue on the vessel before the accident. US media, referencing the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, noted a “temporary loss of propulsion” leading to the failure to maintain course by the “Dali”.
US authorities stated that the crew was able to signal Maryland authorities about the loss of control over the ship. This alert allowed officials on land to halt traffic, preventing more vehicles from accessing the bridge.