The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed early Tuesday morning after a cargo ship rammed into one of the supports for the structure.
The bridge collapsed at approximately 1:30 a.m. Eastern time in what officials on Tuesday called a “catastrophic collapse.” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said there are six people still unaccounted for as of Tuesday morning and that two have been rescued — one of whom was hospitalized.
BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn
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Wiedefeld said that at this time, officials believe the people on the bridge when it collapsed were construction workers who were repairing potholes, stressing that the repairs were not related to the structural integrity of the bridge.
William DelBagno, special agent for the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, told reporters on Tuesday that there is no information leading them to believe that the collapse was caused by a terrorist act.
“I want to be clear that there is no specific or credible information to suggest that there are ties to terrorism in this incident,” DelBagno said.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirmed on Tuesday that the Dali, the vessel that crashed into the bridge, had 22 crew members onboard at the time and said it will fully cooperate with U.S. officials in the investigation.
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) said the ship had lost power and sent a distress call prior to the collision, which he claims allowed officials to limit traffic on the bridge.
“These people are heroes, they saved lives last night,” Moore said on Tuesday.
The White House said President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation Tuesday morning.
The 1.6-mile bridge traverses over the Patapsco River. It opened in March 1977 and was part of Interstate 695. Moore said on Tuesday that the bridge was “fully up to code” prior to the collapse. The depth of the water below the bridge is approximately 50 feet, according to officials.
The Maryland Department of Transportation is advising drivers to use Interstate 95 or Interstate 895 as a detour.
Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott both declared states of emergency for Maryland and Baltimore, respectively, to assist in the recovery and rebuilding process.
“We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety,” Moore posted on X.
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he has offered Moore and Scott the department’s support and advised that those in the area should heed “local responder guidance on detours and response.”
Officials said it is too early for a timeline for when the Port of Baltimore will reopen or when the bridge will be repaired.
