Part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a cargo ship collided with it early Tuesday morning. The ship crashed into a pier of the 3-kilometre-long bridge structure, then caught fire before sinking. Several vehicles fell into the water in the Patapsco River. “All lanes were closed in both directions due to an incident on the I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is diverted »released the Maryland Transportation Authority on.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway. Rescuers were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Kevin Cartwright, communications director for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press around 3 a.m. (8 a.m. Paris time).
Mr. Cartwright said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. Paris) reporting that a ship coming from Baltimore had struck a column of the bridge, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.
“Our focus right now is trying to save and recover these people”, said Mr. Cartwright. He added that it was too early to know how many people had been affected, but called the collapse a “mass casualty event”.
It seems that there is “goods or restraints suspended from the deck” creating dangerous and unstable conditions, he explained, and that emergency responders are therefore operating with caution. “This is an absolute emergency”continued the communications director.
More information to come.