Rescuers pulled people out of the water and are still looking for 7 more people, according to the Baltimore police chief.
Here’s What We Know
By Lawrence Wilson, Jackson Richman 1 hour ago
A massive cargo ship lost power and struck a major bridge in Baltimore in the early hours of March 26, causing it to collapse and hurtling as many as 12 vehicles and 20 people into the frigid water.
At least two survivors have been rescued. One refused medical treatment and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Rescuers are searching for at least six more missing.
The crew of the Dali, a 985-foot-long ship, issued a mayday call moments before the crash, allowing authorities to stop traffic on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship barrelled toward the bridge at “a very, very rapid speed,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, striking one of the bridge’s supports at around 1:30 am ET, causing the structure to collapse within seconds.
Initial findings show the incident was an accident, said Mr. Moore, with no credible evidence that it was a terrorist attack.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. Inspectors found a problem with the Dali’s machinery in June, but a more recent examination didn’t identify any deficiencies, according to the shipping information system Equasis.
All 22 crew members were accounted for and unharmed, along with two local pilots, according to a statement from Synergy Marine, which operates the ship.
Mr. Moore declared a state of emergency for Maryland.
Shipping in and out of the Port of Baltimore was suspended after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The port and bridge’s closure is expected to disrupt U.S. supply chains.
President Joe Biden said the federal government would foot the costs of the bridge’s reconstruction.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, part of the part of Interstate 695, a key route in Maryland, is named after the person behind America’s national anthem. Built in 1977, it carries more than 30,000 cars per day, according to the state government.
The Associated Press contributed.
Questions Remain About Baltimore Bridge Collapse
By Chase Smith 1 hour ago
As the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore still rests in the Patapsco River after being struck by a container ship on the morning of March 26 and suffering a catastrophic collapse, curiosity continues to build as to what caused the incident.
Experts tell The Epoch Times that although the steel-arched bridge was nearly 50 years old, it would have likely collapsed whether it was new or old because the ship took out the main support columns.
Maryland officials said Tuesday morning that the bridge was fully up to code and was not on any of the state’s lists for bridges in poor condition at the time of the incident, which was caught on video and shared widely across all media platforms.
The investigation continues as to what caused the freighter to veer off course and hit the bridge.
More Unknown Than Known Currently
Jason Matzus, one of the lead plaintiff lawyers in an ongoing lawsuit over the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh in 2022, said there are still critical questions that need to be addressed.
Some of the questions that need to be answered, Mr. Matzus said, are what caused the ship to lose power and propulsion and whether it was system failure, human error, or both.
He said another question that needs to be answered is whether there were warning signs or system alerts before the crash, whether these systems were checked “pre-trip”—similar to airline pilots performing preflight systems checks—and if there were any backups or redundancies to help in this type of emergency.
“It seems like once the Mayday call went out prompt action was taken to close the bridge to traffic which no doubt saved lives,” he said in an email to The Epoch Times. “The bottom line: these ships have sophisticated technology and sophisticated and highly trained pilots on board so that these disasters don’t occur. So, obviously there was either system failure, human error, or some combination of both.”
Catastrophic Damage
Dayakar Penumadu, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Tennessee, said although the bridge was old, opening in 1977, once the support was removed, it couldn’t survive.
“The foundation support structure, a critical part of safe functioning of the bridge structure, was damaged significantly due to lateral impact of the cargo ship,” Mr. Penumadu said in a written comment after reviewing footage of the incident. “This likely removed the complete support structure for the right part of the first main span of the bridge and caused catastrophic damage.”
The only way for this type of accident to be avoided, he said, is to ensure that bridge support structures and foundations are safe from ship and barge traffic and other impacts.
“No bridge can survive if you remove foundation support no matter how young or old the structure is,” Mr. Penumadu added.
A question has been raised as to if and how structures are designed for impact other than lateral and vertical loads, Hafsa Bur, an architect and sustainability expert, told The Epoch Times.
“Structural Analysis of bridge design takes into account limit states beyond which a bridge can’t perform structurally therefore most design calculations stay within those limits,” Ms. Bur said in written comments. “Design also takes into account structural fatigue, as a result of loading/unloading and general material weakness from use. Substructures such as columns, which collapsed on impact in this case, also need careful design consideration for bearing loads taking into account transfer of load from the deck etc to the support columns.”
She noted bridges are carefully designed for movement, expansion, and contraction due to thermal changes, but the question remains how well any structures—not just bridges—are designed for impact.
“I’m quite sure a detailed forensic failure analysis will be performed by the local jurisdictions and it will shed more light on the weaknesses,” she added.
Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority Offering to Help Coast Guard
By Jackson Richman 35 mins ago
The U.S. Embassy in Singapore has been in touch with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, which has offered to give assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard in the aftermath of the bridge collapse in Baltimore, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in response to a question from The Epoch Times.
The commercial vessel that crashed into the bridge, causing it to collapse, had a Singaporean flag.
Mr. Miller said the State Department is not aware of any U.S. contacts with Sri Lanka, where the boat was headed.
Bridge Catastrophe: What We Know So Far
By Lawrence Wilson, Jackson Richman, Jacob Burg, Joseph Lord, Andrew Moran, Madalina Vasiliu 20 mins ago
A container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, collapsing large sections of the 1.6-mile structure and hurtling as many as 12 vehicles and 20 people into the frigid waters of the lower Patapsco River at 1:28 a.m. on March 26.
At least two survivors were rescued. One refused medical treatment and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency.
“I recognize that many of us are hurting and scared right now,” he told reporters at about 10 a.m. “I want to be clear, we are still investigating what happened, but our preliminary findings points to an accident, we haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack.”
“There is no specific or credible information to suggest there are ties to terrorism in this incident,” FBI special agent in charge of the Baltimore office William DelBagno told reporters.
Rescue operations, including the use of divers and sonar to locate submerged vehicles, are ongoing.
A mayday call from the commercial vessel involved may have saved lives, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, saying that the call prompted officials to slow traffic to the bridge. “These people are heroes,” he said. “They saved lives last night.”
Cause Not Determined
The cause of the collision has not been determined, though some reports indicate that the ship lost power prior to the incident.
The DALI, a ship, a Singaporean-flagged vessel containing approximately 4,700 shipping containers, appearing in a livestream video of the bridge, seemed to go dark about one minute prior to the collision.
Synergy Marine, which operates the ship, reported that it was under the control of two local pilots when it struck the bridge. However, the ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port, and the crew notified Maryland officials they were no longer in control of the vessel according to an ABC News report, which cited an unclassified U.S. intelligence report.
All 22 crew members were accounted for and unharmed, along with two local pilots, according to a statement from Synergy Marine.
The vessel is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, which is in turn owned by a group based in Hong Kong. The ship had been leased by the Danish shipping company Maersk.
“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” Maersk told The Epoch Times.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued a plea for media outlets to stop showing video of the bridge collapse.
“I’m going to be the first to ask that CNN and everyone else stop showing the video,” he said in a call to the cable news network. “No one needs to see a possibility of their family members and severely injured otherwise over and over and over again because it’s just traumatizing our community.”
Reaction
President Joe Biden “has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the ongoing search and rescue efforts” and “will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day,” according to the White House.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said “Horrific news this morning. Praying for those who were on the FSK bridge. Thankful for @USCG @BaltimoreFire and all the first responders who are on the scene” in a statement on X.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called the tragedy “awful, horrific news” in a statement on X. “I’m praying for those who were on the bridge & thankful for emergency crews responding to this disaster,” he wrote. He later stated that he was traveling to Baltimore and closely monitoring the situation.
Impact
The Francis Scott Key Bridge—named for the author of America’s national anthem—was built in 1977. It carried an average of 31,000 vehicles daily along Interstate 695, forming the outer beltway around the city of Baltimore. The main span of the bridge, covering a distance of 1,200 feet, was destroyed.
Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. The Department of Transportation Port Administration says it is still processing trucks inside its terminals.The port is one of the most significant trade hubs in the country, with 12 private and 5 state-owned public marine terminals. Last year, the private terminals handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, up 44.2 million tons from 2019.
According to John Kartsonas, a shipping analyst and managing partner at Breakwave Advisors, deliveries of new cars and consumer goods will be the most impacted.
“Baltimore is very significant in terms of especially consumer goods, cars, and other things the U.S. imports from abroad,” Mr. Kartsonas said.
Baltimore Harbor was the shipping point for more than 847,000 cars and light trucks last year.
In addition to cargo ships, Baltimore is a popular port for large cruise ships and the industry is watching.
Cruise ship activity at the Port of Baltimore, based on 2024 published itineraries, includes 12 ships making a total of 115 ship calls during calendar year 2024.
It is the 29th largest cruise port in the United States with 378,000 passenger movements scheduled through the port. Any adjustments to current cruise activity at the port will be announced as soon as available by the individual cruise lines.
Mr. Van Hollen said that the Department of Transportation will allocate emergency funding to repair the bridge and that acting National Highway Transportation Administration Administrator Sophie Shulman and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “will be releasing those early funds once all the parties are fully engaged.”
Synergy Marine reported that there was no pollution released by the DALI as a result of the incident.
Vessel Out of Shipping Channel
By Beth Brelje 16 mins ago
A tugboat operator on the water woke Robert Newberry with a call in the middle of the night.
“He said, ‘Man, you won’t believe what just happened! This ship just hit the Key Bridge and it’s in the water.’
“He was probably bringing a barge under the bridge and passing, about 10 minutes away, or coming into port,” Mr. Newberry told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Newberry is chairman of the Delmarva Fisheries Association, a marine officer with a 100-ton Master’s License, and a fixture on the Chesapeake Bay.
He says it is likely the ship’s pilot knew well before impact that it was going to hit the bridge. A ship that big and heavy, moving at four knots can take a half mile to stop, he said.
“He knew he was in bad trouble at least 15 to 20 minutes before he hit the bridge. You’ve got satellite tracking and all that on the ship,” Mr. Newberry said.
The pilot called a mayday and that is why the Coast Guard was there immediately. Mr. Newberry pieced together information from observations and his shipping knowledge.
Ships come into the harbor bow first and tie up to the dock.
“When they leave, they are shoved off the dock, they make a U-turn and come back out the harbor. They always make a U- turn,” Mr. Newberry said.
“He had had problems turning around. He knew what was going on …
“You can see the lights going off because they had a major shutdown. They had to restart. That’s why you see all that black smoke.
“He was probably backing down on it as hard as he could. Or, it could have been a transmission problem.”
From the video, it appeared to Mr. Newberry that the ship was too far south in the channel, or possibly out of the channel of traffic.
“The channel is right dead in the middle of the bridge. He was coming, if you look underneath the bridge, he was coming from the south side of that bridge. His angle of approach was insufficient to clear the bridge.”
Biden Says Federal Resources Available
By Emel Akan 9 mins ago
President Joe Biden issued a statement about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore for the first time.
The White House announced that the president will also deliver remarks about the tragic incident at 12:30 p.m.
“This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Mr. Biden said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“I’ve directed my administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident.”
The president is scheduled to travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, this afternoon to deliver remarks about his healthcare policy and attend a campaign reception.
He is planning to leave the White House following his address regarding the Baltimore incident.
“The president will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day. White House and administration officials will remain in close contact with state and local officials,” the White House said in a statement.
Baltimore’s Sports Team React to Tragedy
By Jackson Richman 14 mins ago
Baltimore’s National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) teams reacted to the collapse of the bridge.
“Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the horrific Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early this morning,” said the Baltimore Ravens in a statement.
“We are grateful for the first responders and local leaders who are on scene to lead the search and rescue efforts and to support those families who have been most directly impacted,” continued the NFL team.
“We are devastated by the news of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, and send our thoughts and prayers to those impacted by this tragedy. We thank the brave first responders and the men and women actively working on rescue efforts,” said the Baltimore Orioles in a statement.
“Baltimore, we’re a tight-knit and resilient city,” continued the baseball team. “Together we will get through this.”
Baltimore Mayor Issues Local State of Emergency Declaration
By Jackson Richman 14 mins ago
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order, declaring a local state of emergency for 30 days.
Members of Maryland Congressional Delegation React
By Jackson Richman 2 mins ago
In addition to Democrat Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, other members of Maryland’s congressional delegation reacted to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Maryland.
“The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse is an unthinkable horror. We are all trying to respond accordingly. I’ve spoken directly with Secretary Buttigieg and the White House. They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” posted Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), whose district consists of almost all of Baltimore, on X, previously Twitter.
“Special thanks to the first responders on the scene and praying for everyone affected. To all travelers in the area, follow local travel guidance and stay safe,” posted Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) on X.
“Deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of everyone affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. I’m profoundly thankful to first responders on the scene and will track rescue efforts by local, state and federal authorities,” posted Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on X.
“Represented the Key Bridge for more than two decades in Congress – the footage is devastating. I am praying for those impacted + our brave first responders in #Baltimore. The federal delegation stands ready to support. I’m told @SecretaryPete @USDOTFHWA + @NTSB will be on site,” posted Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) on X.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the office of Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), the only member of the delegation who has not yet weighed in on the tragedy, for comment.
Bridge Disaster Blocks Crucial Trade Hub for Autos, Consumer Goods
By Andrew Moran 33 mins ago
The major bridge collapse at the port of Baltimore could lead to a ripple effect in the shipping industry and potentially make a dent in the broader economy.
The port has become one of the most significant trade hubs in the U.S. today, with 12 private and 5 state-owned public marine terminals.
Last year, the private terminals handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, up 44.2 million tons from 2019. The total value of the foreign cargo is a record $80 billion, up from the previous all-time high of $74.3 billion in 2023.
According to John Kartsonas, a shipping analyst and managing partner at Breakwave Advisors, deliveries of new cars and consumer goods will be the most impacted.
“Baltimore is very significant in terms of especially consumer goods, cars, and other things the U.S. imports from abroad,” Mr. Kartsonas said.
Baltimore Harbor is the busiest American port for automobile shipments, totaling more than 847,000 cars and light trucks. Additionally, 2023 was “the 13th consecutive year it has led all other U.S. ports in that commodity,” the state government reported last month.
It is a crucial destination for imports and exports of several leading car vehicle brands, such as General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
“It will take a while for the situation to resolve and to begin operating normally again,” Mr. Kartsonas noted. “So definitely there will be delays in deliveries of goods. Hard to say when Baltimore will come back online, but it won’t be this year.”
In addition to automobiles, the port of Baltimore handles immense volumes of construction and farming machinery, totaling 1.3 million tons.
Agricultural products also travel through the port, with imports totaling about 3 million tons in 2023. This includes more than 1 million tons of fertilizers, salt, and sugar.
Coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been other top export commodities in the last couple of years.
In the meantime, Mr. Kartsonas believes other areas of the country “can pick up the slack,” alluding to New York Harbor and Savannah, Georgia.
“So, there are alternative destinations,” he added.
Patrick Penfield, a professor of practice in supply chain management at Syracuse University in New York, told The Epoch Times that the collapse will have a ripple effect on the supply chains across the East Coast.
“Automobile companies will now need to reroute ships to other East Coast ports in the future which will cause supply chain delays,” Mr. Penfield said.
“Also, many tractor trailers especially ones that carry Hazardous Material can only use the Francis Scott Key Bridge to transport materials through that area and will now have to come up with alternative routes which may include going through the city of Baltimore.”
But while all the focus is on how much the bridge’s collapse will impact supply chains, it will also affect cruises. In September, the Norwegian Cruise Line announced a fall and winter schedule starting at the port and voyaging to New England, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The cruise line had been scheduled to return later this year.
Overall, the port has transformed into a vast economic hub, ranking ninth in the nation for foreign cargo handled and total foreign cargo value.
According to Gov. Wes Moore, the port of Baltimore has also generated 15,300 direct jobs and close to 140,000 indirect jobs.
“The Port of Baltimore is the best port in the nation and one of the largest economic generators in Maryland,” Mr. Moore said at a news conference announcing the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s state-owned public marine terminal.
Cruise ship activity likely to be affected.
By Beth Brelje 51 mins ago
Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is shut down. The Department of Transportation Port Administration says it is still processing trucks inside its terminals.
In addition to cargo ships, Baltimore is a popular port for large cruise ships and the industry is watching.
Cruise ship activity at the Port of Baltimore, based on 2024 published itineraries, includes 12 ships making a total of 115 ship calls during calendar year 2024. It is the 29th largest cruise port in the United States with 378,000 passenger movements scheduled through the port. Any adjustments to current cruise activity at the port will be announced as soon as available by the individual cruise lines.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Key Bridge that occurred last night and extend our support and heartfelt prayers to all those impacted,” Macinzie McFarland, spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association told The Epoch Times in a statement.
“We join everyone in extending our thanks and appreciation to the first responders and emergency workers in Baltimore, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other professionals who are working with one goal in mind—to save lives. We are closely following this situation. Right now, the most important thing to do is to allow the emergency workers to do their work.”
Matt Lupoli, spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line told The Epoch Times the company’s thoughts are with those affected by this tragic accident. He said it is premature to comment on possible impacts to upcoming sailings.
Royal Caribbean also cruises from this port.
Mayday call from ship may have saved lives.
By Jackson Richman 57 mins ago
A mayday call from the commercial vessel may have saved lives, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The call prompted officials to slow traffic to the bridge he said.
“These people are heroes,” he said. “They saved lives last night.”
Witness describes bridge incident.
By Lawrence Wilson, Madalina Vasiliu 55 mins ago
A Baltimore man was awakened by a family member who heard what he initially thought was a bomb explosion at around 1:30 a.m. on March 26. The sound was the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor, carrying traffic along Interstate 695 in Baltimore.
Two sections of the 1.6-mile bridge crumpled into the river along with approximately seven vehicles and as many as 20 people after being struck by a container ship, DALI.
The man, identifying himself as Chris, who had traveled the route daily as a commuter speculated that traffic could be disrupted for years as the bridge is rebuilt.
Maryland Senator: Federal Funds Coming for Bridge
By Jackson Richman 20 mins ago
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said that the Department of Transportation will allocate emergency funding to repair the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Mr. Van Hollen said that acting National Highway Transportation Administration Administrator Sophie Shulman is on her way to Baltimore.
He said that she and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “will be releasing those early funds once all the parties are fully engaged.”
Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board “will be conducting an investigation of what happened” in addition to the Army Corps of Engineers “naval assets working below the surface and clearing all of this.”
Maryland Governor: We’ll Come Back Stronger
By Jackson Richman 22 mins ago
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore offered heartfelt thoughts in the aftermath of the bridge tragedy.
He said Maryland will “come back stronger” and to “pray for Baltimore.”
Mr. Moore also thanked first responders and offered words of hope to the people of Maryland.
“I recognize that many of us are hurting right now,” he said. “I recognize that many of us are scared right now.”
Mr. Moore said that the investigation is ongoing, but “the preliminary investigation points to an accident. We haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack.”
He expressed solidarity with the construction workers and motorists directly affected by the collapse.
“We will get through this because that is the Maryland spirit,” he said.
“We are Maryland tough,” he added. “And we are Baltimore strong.”
Mr. Moore noted that the bridge slowed down traffic toward the bridge thanks to a mayday call from the vessel and who could have saved lives.
Sen. Van Hollen Responds Several Hours After Bridge Collapse
By Jackson Richman 41 mins ago
Hours after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued a statement about the tragedy.
“Awful, horrific news in Baltimore this AM. I’m praying for those who were on the bridge & thankful for emergency crews responding to this disaster,” he posted on X, previously Twitter, at 8:26 a.m. ET – about four hours later than Maryland’s other Democrat senator, Ben Cardin, posted his reactions to the incident.
In a full statement, Mr. Van Hollen said that he is “heading to Baltimore now and am closely monitoring the situation” and keeping in touch with leading officials including Gov. Wes Moore.
Maersk Issues Statement on Bridge Collision
By Lawrence Wilson 13 mins ago
Rescuers pulled two survivors from the Patapsco River after portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed at 1:28 a.m.
The bridge was struck by the container ship DALI, which had been chartered by the shipping company Maersk. “We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” Maersk said in a statement.
At least seven vehicles cascaded into the water, according to Baltimore officials.
Kevin Cartwright of the Baltimore City Fire Department said some 20 people have been thrown into the river along with “numerous vehicles, and possibly a tractor-trailer or a vehicle as large as a tractor-trailer, (that) went into the river.”
“This is a mass-casualty, multi-agency event,” Mr. Cartwright said. “This operation is going to extend for many days.”
The Epoch Times requested further comment from MAERSK.
Reuters contributed to this report.
White House Aware of Bridge Collapse
By Jackson Richman 22 mins ago
President Joe Biden “has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the ongoing search and rescue efforts,” according to the White House.
The president, continued the White House, “will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day.”
The president, along with Vice President Harris, is scheduled to head to North Carolina to campaign as the Tar Heel State will be a crucial state in the election.
Container Ship Lost Propulsion Before Crash: Report
By Lawrence Wilson 32 mins ago
The container ship DALI is owned by a Singapore-based group, Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, which is in turn owned by a group based in Hong Kong and was carrying cargo on behalf of the Danish shipping company Maersk.
Synergy Marine, which operates the ship, reported that it was under the control of two local pilots when it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1:28 a.m. However, the ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port, and the crew notified Maryland officials they were no longer in control of the vessel according to an ABC News report, which cited an unclassified U.S. intelligence report.
Synergy Marine reported that the 22 crew members aboard, all Indian, and two local pilots were accounted for with no injuries.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Coast Guard on Scene
By Beth Brelje 39 mins ago
The U.S. Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast urging mariners to avoid the area. There has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters.
The Coast Guard has sent the Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders to the incident.
Prior Incident of Vessel that Hit Bridge
By Jackson Richman 51 mins ago
This is not the first time the Singaporean-flagged Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Investment, has had an incident.
In 2016, the container ship, now nine years old, hit a wall at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium as it was doing “unmooring maneuvers for leaving the port … in good weather and was caused by mistake of the master and pilot on board” as the cargo ship “had substantial stern momentum, which caused allision with the stone wall of the quay.”
What We Know About the Bridge
By Jackson Richman 1 hour ago
The Francis Scott Key Bridge—named after the person behind America’s national anthem—was built in 1977 as its 47th anniversary was just three days ago. It was built in Baltimore over the Patapsco River.
On average, 31,000 cars drove on the bridge daily, or 11.3 million annually.
The 1.6-mile bridge was managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
People from the cargo ship that hit the bridge are safe, according to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
Listen to the 911 call here.
Breaking News: Mass Casualty event declared in the US after a ship slams into a Bridge
— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) March 26, 2024
The full video can be seen here.
Developing story#Baltimore #USA #bridgecollapse pic.twitter.com/E5bWMovtjo
Lights Out on Ship Prior to Bridge Collapse
By Lawrence Wilson 1 hour ago
The lights on the container ship that rammed the bridge support, causing it to collapse, appeared to go out approximately 67 seconds before the vessel made contact with the bridge, a livestream of Baltimore Harbor shows.
A spray of water or debris is visible as the ship reaches the point where four supporting pillars from the bridge meet the water. The two bridge sections to the right and left of the pillar collapse immediately, striking the bow of the ship and cascading what appear to be three or four emergency vehicles into the water. A further section to the right collapses as well, leaving a second supporting pillar in place.
The collapse took about five seconds.
Baltimore Mayor to News Outlets: Stop Showing Video of Bridge Collapse
By Jackson Richman 1 hour ago
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling into CNN, said that the media should stop showing video of the bridge collapse.
“I’m going to be the first to ask that CNN and everyone else stop showing the video,” he said. “No one needs to see a possibility of their family members and severely injured otherwise over and over and over again because it’s just traumatizing our community.”
All of those on the shipping vessel are safe, said Mr. Scott.
Additionally, he said, the collapse of the 1.6-mile bridge is “just something that’s very surreal.
Primary Mission: Search and Rescue
By Jackson Richman 2 hours ago
The primary mission following the collapse of the bridge is searching for and rescuing people, said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.
There are no fatalities that have been confirmed and the FBI is investigating if the collapse was an act of terrorism. Mr. Wiedefeld said he believes that there is no terrorism connection. Nonetheless, it is “an open investigation,” he said.
There were workers on the bridge doing concrete and duct repairs at the time of the crash, according to Mr. Wiedefeld.
It is “too early to be determined” how long the bridge will be closed, he said.
Baltimore PD Chief: Bridge Collapse Not Terrorism
By Jackson Richman 2 hours ago
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the bridge collapse was not an act of terrorism nor an intentional act.
Nonetheless, he told reporters, “There are people in the water we need to get out.”
Rescuers pulled to people out of the water. One refused medical care and the other is in critical condition and was transferred to a hospital.
Emergency personnel are still looking for 7 more people.
Here’s What We Know
By Jackson Richman 2 hours ago
A cargo ship hit the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge—named after the man behind America’s national anthem—and caused it to collapse in the wee hours of March 26.
At least seven vehicles cascaded into the water, according to Baltimore officials. Around 20 people were thrown into the river. Some of them have been rescued and rescuers are searching for around 7 more people in the water.
The ship, DALI, left the Seagirt Marine Terminal at approximately 12:20 a.m. on Tuesday. Its destination: Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The 984-foot container vessel, which appeared fully loaded, sailed on the Patapsco River for over an hour before it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge bridge at 1:28 a.m., according to a live stream of the harbor.
Two sections of the bridge collapsed in 5 seconds after the collision.
“We received several 911 calls at around 1:30 a.m., that a vessel struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the collapse,” Baltimore Fire Department Communications Director Kevin Cartwright said. “This is currently a mass casualty incident and we are searching for seven people who are in the river.”
Mr. Cartwright said that the collapse is “a dire emergency” and that “our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
The cargo ship, the Dali, had a Singaporean flag.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency in response to the collapse.
“We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local entities that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Additionally, posted the Maryland Transportation Authority, “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured.”
The bridge was 47 years old.
Rescuers pulled to people out of the water, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley. One refused medical care and the other is in critical condition and was transferred to a hospital.
Emergency personnel are still looking for 7 more people.
There were no injuries on board the container ship, said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a toll bridge costing $3 for passenger cars to cross. Locals call it the Key Bridge. It was built in 1977 to alleviate congestion and delays at the Harbor Tunnel. It accounts for seven percent of the toll revenue the Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) collects.
The bridge was scheduled for deck replacement along the entire length of the bridge as well as the installation of a fiberglass jacket protection system at the water pier columns. This project was slated to start in the summer of 2025, according to an MTA report.
Emergency Personnel on Scene
By Caden Pearson 2 hours ago
Emergency personnel was on the scene of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday morning follow a catastrophic strike by a cargo ship.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, involved a Singapore-flagged container ship named the Dali.
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Detective Niki Fennoy told The Epoch Times. “At this time, I have no further information available.”
Ms. Fennoy said that multiple agencies were currently at the scene.
The vessel collided with the bridge, as seen in video footage circulating online, which carries both north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695, causing a section of the bridge to catch fire before collapsing into the river.
According to MarineTraffic, which provides real-time tracking of ships, the Dali was shown as “stopped” directly under the bridge as of early Tuesday morning. The Class A container ship was headed for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to the site.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) responded swiftly to the incident, closing all lanes of the bridge in both directions. Traffic was immediately detoured as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage and manage the aftermath of the collision.
In a statement posted around 2 a.m. on social media platform X, the MTA urged motorists to avoid the southeast corridor of I-695, where the bridge collapse occurred “due to ship strike.” Alternative routes, such as I-95 or I-895, were recommended for commuters navigating through the affected area.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott posted on X that he was “aware of and en route to the incident at the Key Bridge,” and had been in contact with authorities.
“Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he wrote.
The steel arch-shaped continuous through truss bridge was opened in 1977. It spans 1,200 feet (366 meters) of the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor.
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