Dramatic footage shows Francis Scott key bridge collapse, emergency response underway
In a dramatic turn of events early Tuesday, a major bridge in Baltimore, USA, collapsed after a ship collided with it, plunging parts of the structure into the waters below. The incident, captured on CCTV footage, shows a container ship, identified as the Dali, striking the footing of the Francis Scott Key bridge, leading to its catastrophic collapse.
The chilling footage reveals the bridge warping and breaking apart, with vehicles appearing to be caught on the roadway as it collapses into the Patapsco River. Emergency services have expressed concerns that vehicles, including a possible tractor-trailer, may have plunged into the water along with the bridge debris.
Kevin Cartwright of the Baltimore Fire Department described the situation, stating, “We have reason to believe that there were vehicles and possibly a tractor-trailer that went into the water,” emphasizing the magnitude of the collapse.
Baltimore Police Department spokesperson Detective Niki Fennoy confirmed reports of a partial bridge collapse, with workers potentially in the water. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River, is a critical transportation artery in the region, accommodating over 11 million vehicles annually.
The Maryland Transportation Authority has urged drivers to avoid the bridge, labelling the area as an “active scene” as rescue efforts continue. Ship tracking data revealed the presence of the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali near the bridge at the time of the incident.
Both Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scoot and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured the public that rescue operations were underway. Olszewski also requested prayers for those affected by the tragic event.
