In the early hours of Tuesday, a catastrophic event unfolded in Baltimore as a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a significant portion of the structure to give way and plummet into the river below. This incident resulted in several vehicles being swept into the water, prompting an urgent search for at least seven individuals believed to be missing.
A video circulating on X, previously known as Twitter, captures the harrowing moment the bridge succumbed to the impact. The footage reveals the vessel striking a bridge support, leading to the fragmentation of the roadway and its subsequent descent into the water. The ship itself was engulfed in flames, emitting dense, black smoke into the air.
Kevin Cartwright, the Baltimore Fire Department’s Director of Communications, described the situation as a “dire emergency.” The primary concern at this moment is the rescue and recovery of those affected by the tragedy. Cartwright emphasized the gravity of the situation, referring to it as a “developing mass casualty event,” though it remains uncertain how many people are involved.
Further complicating the disaster, some of the bridge’s cargo was seen hanging precariously over the water. The bridge, which has been a crucial conduit over the Patapsco River since its inauguration in 1977, is not only a key infrastructure for the Port of Baltimore but also a vital shipping lane on the East Coast. Named after the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the bridge’s collapse represents a significant loss.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident around 1:30 a.m., with reports indicating that a ship, later identified as the “Dali” and flying a Singapore flag, had collided with a bridge column. At the time of the collision, the bridge was occupied by several vehicles, including one as large as a tractor-trailer.
Observers near the bridge’s entrance reported seeing the twisted remains of its steel structure jutting out from the water, marking a stark end to where the bridge once began. The “Dali” was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking a tragic interruption to its journey.
In response to the emergency, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. confirmed that rescue operations were in full swing. The Maryland Transportation Authority announced the closure of all lanes in both directions on the I-695 Key Bridge, with traffic being rerouted to accommodate the ongoing response efforts.
This incident recalls a similar emergency in 2001 when a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a downtown Baltimore tunnel, igniting a fire that blanketed nearby neighborhoods in black smoke and necessitated the temporary closure of the city’s major roadways.