In a catastrophic incident that shook the city of Baltimore, the Francis Scott Key Bridge suffered a partial collapse early Tuesday morning after a collision with a large cargo ship, triggering a frantic search for at least seven individuals reported missing in the water. The accident, which unfolded around 1:30 a.m. local time, has since been declared a mass-casualty incident by officials, casting a shadow of urgency over the city as rescue operations commenced.
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media captured the harrowing moment when the vessel, later identified as the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali, struck the bridge, leading to its structural failure. The Baltimore City Fire Department, spearheading the rescue efforts, confirmed the ongoing search for seven people believed to be in the river following the collapse.
Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, conveyed the gravity of the situation in a statement to Reuters. “We received several 911 calls at around 1:30 a.m., that a vessel struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the collapse,” Cartwright explained. “This is currently a mass casualty incident and we are searching for seven people who are in the river.”
Baltimore Mayor Brendon Scott took to X to inform the public of his immediate response to the unfolding crisis, stating, “Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” signaling a full-scale mobilization of city resources to address the aftermath of the collapse.
Ship tracking data pinpointed the Dali’s location at the time of the accident along the span of the Key Bridge. Further investigations revealed that the ship is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd. and managed by Synergy Marine Group, adding a layer of complexity to the incident as authorities begin to unravel the events leading up to the collision.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) issued an early advisory to motorists, announcing, “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” and advising traffic to be detoured away from the affected area. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a vital artery for Baltimore’s transportation network, spans 1.6 miles across the Patapsco River and has been a fixture since its inauguration in 1977.
As the city reels from the impact of this disaster, the focus remains on the urgent search and rescue operations for those missing and the broader implications for Baltimore’s infrastructure and maritime safety protocols. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our modern transportation systems and the need for stringent safety measures to protect against such unforeseen calamities.
