The Francis Scott Key Bridge across River Patapsco in Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday after a large container ship struck it.
Shocking videos captured the moment the large ship hit the bridge and the steel arches of the structure plummeting into the river around 1.30 am on Tuesday.
The US Coast Gaurd has confirmed that the vessel was a 948-foot container ship named Dali, which sailed under a Singaporean flag.
Several vehicles commuting on the Interstate 695 have reportedly fallen into the water with city fire department reporting at least seven people plunging into the river. Efforts are on to find the victims with the help of a dive and rescue team, said reports.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland which crosses the Patapsco River has reportedly Collapsed within the last few minutes after being Struck by a Large Container Ship; a Mass Casualty Incident has been Declared with over a Dozen Cars and many Individuals said to… pic.twitter.com/SsPMU8Mjph
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 26, 2024
The 1.6-mile-long bridge, which extends into the Port of Baltimore, is named after Francis Scott Key, the author of US national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Key is believed to have witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 near the site of the bridge, inspiring him to pen the anthem.
The bridge was opened to the public in 1977.
