A major bridge has collapsed in the US city of Baltimore after colliding with a cargo ship, US media reported.
Footage shows a large section of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge falling into the water after the collision, which occurred at around 1.30 a.m. local time (5.30 a.m. UK time). The Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X:
All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr said emergency personnel have arrived on the scene and rescue efforts are underway. Mr. Olszewski added:
Please pray for those impacted.
Kevin Cartwright, director of public affairs for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press around 3 a.m. that rescuers were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water.
He said 911 received a call about 1:30 a.m. that a vessel travelling from Baltimore had struck a bridge column, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles were travelling over the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor trailer. Cartwright said:
Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.
He said it’s too early to know how many people were affected but called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.” Cartwright added it appears that “some weights or retainers are hanging off the bridge,” creating unsafe and unstable conditions, and so rescuers are working with caution. He noted:
This is a dire emergency.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977, it is referred to locally as the Key Bridge. It is one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.
