BALTIMORE, MD—Early Tuesday morning, a colossal 948-foot container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a significant portion of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River. Cars and individuals fell into the river, sparking a massive rescue operation.
Two survivors were rescued from the wreckage, one in a critical condition. Authorities are still searching for additional victims in the river after the bridge, spanning 1.6 miles, was severely damaged.
Baltimore officials estimate that at least seven individuals were thrown into the water following the collision, which has disrupted operations at one of the United States’ busiest ports.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported the incident at 1:27 a.m., initiating an urgent search and rescue mission. The Singapore-flagged ship, identified as the Dali, had reportedly lost propulsion while exiting the port, leading to the disaster.
The bridge’s collapse has halted all traffic to the Port of Baltimore, significantly impacting its operations, especially its role as the leading U.S. port for car shipments. The port handled over 750,000 vehicles in the previous year.
This disruption poses a significant threat to the supply chain, potentially leading to increased delays and costs for various commodities, including automobiles, coal, and sugar.
The ship’s management company confirmed that all crew members were safe and accounted for, with no injuries reported among them.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott likened the scene to an “action movie,” highlighting the sheer scale of the destruction. The Baltimore City Fire Department anticipates a prolonged rescue operation, indicating the seriousness of this multi-agency emergency.
This incident marks one of the most severe bridge collapses in the U.S. since the 2007 Minneapolis disaster. The bridge was named after the author of the Star Spangled Banner and inaugurated in 1977,