A major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed early Tuesday morning following a collision with a container ship.
The Baltimore Fire Department initiated a search for approximately seven individuals believed to be in the water following reports of a large vessel striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
State of Emergency Declared
The governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, has declared a state of emergency following the bridge’s collapse.
An online video shows the vessel hitting one of the bridge’s central supports, resulting in a substantial portion of the 2.6km bridge collapsing into the Patapsco River.
The impact ignited a fire on the ship, sending thick smoke billowing into the air.
Maryland Transportation Authority announced the closure of all lanes on the I-695 Key Bridge, diverting traffic due to the incident.
Extremely Serious
Emergency responders, including the Baltimore Fire Department and the FBI, immediately arrived on the scene to assess the situation.
According to Simon Jones, a senior reporter from the BBC, the authorities are taking the incident very seriously.
The event “has prompted a major response from the emergency services.”
