ReportWire

Tag: Francis Scott Key Bridge

  • As cranes arrive at Baltimore bridge collapse site, governor describes daunting task of cleaning up – WTOP News

    As cranes arrive at Baltimore bridge collapse site, governor describes daunting task of cleaning up – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    The largest crane on the Eastern Seaboard is being transported to Baltimore so crews can begin removing the wreckage of Francis Scott Key Bridge that has halted a search for four workers still missing days after the disaster.

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland-Bridge Collapse Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at a news conference at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Md. on Friday, March 29, 2024 with officials gathered to discuss efforts to remove wreckage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Bridge. The Chesapeake 1000 crane is behind the gathering of officials to the right. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

    AP Photo/Brian Witte

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Barges with cranes float near a damaged section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Tugboats A tugboat floats next to the container ship Dali lodged against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Barges with cranes float near a damaged section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A boat crosses along the Patapsco River, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, as the remnants of the Francis Scott Key Bridge are seen from Dundalk, Md. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

    Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

    AP Photo/Steve Ruark

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Community members mourn in front of the Patterson Park Observatory during a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

    Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A woman and child join others gathered in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

    Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A woman joins others gathered in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

    Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Community members gather in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)

    Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP

    Maryland-Bridge Collapse The Chesapeake 1000 crane, which will be used to help remove wreckage from the collapse of the Key Bridge, is docked at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Md., on Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

    AP Photo/Brian Witte

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters arrive for a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Victoriano Almendares, a construction worker from Rockville, Md., originally from Honduras, speaks at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters hold flowers during a moment of prayer at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters reflect during a moment of prayer at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse A supporter holds a flower during a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Maryland Bridge Collapse People view from Fort McHenry a container ship as it rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    AP Photo/Matt Rourke

    Maryland Bridge Collapse Cranes stand idle on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. A container ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    AP Photo/Matt Rourke

    Maryland Bridge Collapse People view from Dundalk, Md., as a container ship rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    AP Photo/Matt Rourke

    BALTIMORE (AP) — A crane that can lift 1,000 tons, described as one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard, appeared near the site of a collapsed highway bridge in Baltimore as crews prepared Friday to begin clearing wreckage that has stymied the search for four workers missing and presumed dead and blocked ships from entering or leaving the city’s vital port.

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s collapse following a freighter collision an “economic catastrophe” and described the challenges ahead for recovering the workers’ bodies and clearing tons of debris to reopen the Port of Baltimore.

    “What we’re talking about today is not just about Maryland’s economy; this is about the nation’s economy,” Moore said at a news conference, the massive crane standing in the background. “The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in this country.”

    Moore went to the scene Friday and said he saw shipping containers ripped apart “like papier-mache.” The broken pieces of the bridge weigh as much as 4,000 tons, Moore said, and teams will need to cut into the steel trusses before they can be lifted from the Patapsco River.

    Equipment on hand will include seven floating cranes, 10 tugboats, nine barges, eight salvage vessels and five Coast Guard boats, Moore said. Much of it is coming from the Navy.

    “To go out there and see it up close, you realize just how daunting a task this is. You realize how difficult the work is ahead of us,” Moore said. “With a salvage operation this complex — and frankly with a salvation operation this unprecedented — you need to plan for every single moment.”

    Water conditions have prevented divers from entering the river, Moore said. When conditions change, they will resume efforts to recover the construction workers, who were repairing potholes on the bridge when it fell early Tuesday.

    “We have to bring a sense of closure to these families,” Moore said.

    The Coast Guard is focused on removing what’s left of the bridge and the container ship that struck it in order to clear the port’s shipping lanes, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said.

    Teams of engineers from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Navy and the Coast Guard — along with some private-sector experts — are assessing how to “break that bridge up into the right-sized pieces that we can lift,” Gilreath said.

    Maryland’s Department of Transportation is already focused on building a new bridge and is “considering innovative design, engineering and building methods so that we can quickly deliver this project,” Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said.

    Adam Ortiz, the Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, said there is no indication of active releases from the ship, nor of the presence in the water of materials hazardous to human health.

    Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police, said the Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to establish a tactical flight restriction area that would begin 3 nautical miles in every direction from the center span of the bridge and extend upward to 1,500 feet.

    Butler advised people to keep drones away from the area and said law enforcement is poised to act on any violations of that airspace.

    The victims of the collapse were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, officials said. At least eight people initially went into the water when the ship struck the bridge column, and two of them were rescued.

    Divers have recovered the bodies of two men from a pickup truck in the river, but the nature and placement of the debris has complicated efforts to find the other four workers.

    “The divers can put their hands on that faceplate, and they can’t even see their hands,” said Donald Gibbons, an instructor with Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers. “So we say zero visibility. It’s very similar to locking yourself in a dark closet on a dark night and really not being able to see anything.”

    One of the two whose bodies were found, Alejandro Hernández Fuentes, left Xalapa, Mexico, 15 years ago to join his mother and sister in the United States, hoping to make enough money to eventually build a house and open a business back in his native country. But the 35-year-old put down roots in Maryland, and the family decided he will be buried in the United States.

    “He already had a life there; that’s why they didn’t return his body,” Wenceslao Contreras Ortiz, Hernández Fuentes’ uncle, said Friday in Xalapa. He described his nephew as a hard-working father of four who doted on his mother.

    Another sister still lives in Mexico but remained in close contact with Hernández Fuentes, and she is asking authorities for help securing a humanitarian visa to travel to the U.S. and say goodbye.

    “She just wants to hug him for the last time,” Contreras Ortiz said.

    In Baltimore, locals made morning stops at vantage points Friday to watch for the cranes. Ronald Hawkins, 71, who could see the bridge from his home, recalled watching its construction in 1972. It opened in 1977.

    “I’m going to come up here every day, because I want to see the bridge coming up out of the water,” Hawkins said. “It’s a hurtin’ thing.”

    President Joe Biden’s administration has approved $60 million in immediate aid, and Biden has said the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge, which carried Interstate 695.

    Ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore remains suspended, but the Maryland Port Administration said in a statement Friday that trucks were still being processed at marine terminals.

    Federal and state officials have said the collision and collapse early Tuesday appeared to be an accident that came after the ship lost power. Investigators are still trying to determine why.

    The crash caused the bridge to break and fall into the water within seconds. Authorities had just enough time to stop vehicle traffic but were unable to alert the construction crew.

    The loss of a road that carried 30,000 vehicles a day and the port disruption will affect not only thousands of dockworkers and commuters, but also U.S. consumers, who are likely to feel the impact of shipping delays.

    Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, said the union was scrambling to help its roughly 2,400 members whose jobs are at risk of drying up.

    “If there’s no ships, there’s no work,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can.”

    ___

    Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield in Washington, Kristin M. Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, Alba Alemán in Xalapa, Mexico, and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed to this report.

    Copyright
    © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

    More on the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

    [ad_2]

    WTOP Staff

    Source link

  • Baltimore bridge rebuild could take years and cost at least $400M after collapse, experts say

    Baltimore bridge rebuild could take years and cost at least $400M after collapse, experts say

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE — Rebuilding Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years, experts say, while the cost could be at least $400 million – or more than twice that.

    It all depends on factors that are still mostly unknown. They range from the design of the new bridge to how swiftly government officials can navigate the bureaucracy of approving permits and awarding contracts.

    Realistically, the project could take five to seven years, according to Ben Schafer, an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University.

    “The lead time on air conditioning equipment right now for a home renovation is like 16 months, right?” Schafer said. He continued: “So it’s like you’re telling me they’re going to build a whole bridge in two years? I want it to be true, but I think empirically it doesn’t feel right to me.”

    Others are more optimistic about the potential timeline: Sameh Badie, an engineering professor at George Washington University, said the project could take as little as 18 months to two years.

    RELATED: Biden administration approves $60M for Baltimore bridge costs

    The Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday, killing six members of a crew that was working on the span, after the Dali cargo ship plowed into one its supports. Officials are scrambling to clean up and rebuild after the accident, which has shuttered the city’s busy port and a portion of the Baltimore beltway.

    The disaster is in some ways similar to the deadly collapse of Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which was was struck by a freighter in Tampa Bay in 1980. The new bridge took five years to build, was 19 months late and ran $20 million over budget when it opened in 1987.

    But experts say it’s better to look to more recent bridge disasters for a sense of how quickly reconstruction may happen.

    Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, cited the case of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minnesota, which collapsed into the Mississippi River in 2007. The new span was up in less than 14 months.

    “It’s the best comparison that we have for a project like this,” Tymon said. “They did outstanding work in being able to get the approvals necessary to be able to rebuild that as quickly as possible.”

    Tymon expects various government agencies to work together to push through permits, environmental and otherwise.

    RELATED: What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse victims

    “It doesn’t mean that all of the right boxes won’t get checked – they will,” Tymon said. “It’ll just be done more efficiently because everybody will know that this has to get done as quickly as possible.”

    One looming issue is the source of funding. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said the federal government will pay for the new bridge, but that remains to be seen.

    “Hopefully, Congress will be able to come together to provide those resources as soon as possible so that that does not become a source of delay,” Tymon said.

    Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar helped to obtain funding quickly to rebuild the I-35W bridge in her state. But she said replacing the Baltimore span could be more complicated.

    She noted that the I-35W bridge, a federal interstate highway, was a much busier roadway with about 140,000 vehicle crossings a day, compared with about 31,000 for the Maryland bridge.

    “But where there’s a will there’s a way, and you can get the emergency funding,” Klobuchar said. “It’s happened all over the country when disasters hit. And the fact that this is such a major port also makes it deserving of making sure that this all gets taken care of.”

    Badie, of George Washington University, said the cost could be between $500 million and $1 billion, with the largest variable being the design.

    For example a suspension bridge like San Francisco’s Golden Gate will cost more, while a cable-stayed span, like Florida’s Skyway Sunshine Bridge, which handles weight using cables and towers, would be less expensive.

    RELATED: Baltimore’s Key Bridge may have lacked collision protective measures for modern cargo ships: Experts

    Whatever is built, steel is expensive these days and there is a backlog for I-beams, Badie said. Plus, the limited number of construction companies that can tackle such a project are already busy on other jobs.

    “A project like this is going to be expedited, so everything is going to cost a lot more,” Badie said.

    Hota GangaRao, a West Virginia University engineering professor, said the project could cost as little as $400 million. But that’s only if the old bridge’s pier foundations are used; designers may want to locate the new supports farther away from the shipping channels to avoid another collision.

    “That’s going to be more steel, more complicated construction and more checks and balances,” GangaRao said. “It all adds up.”

    Norma Jean Mattei, an emeritus engineering professor at The University of New Orleans, said replacing the Key Bridge likely will take several years. Even if it’s a priority, the process of designing the span, getting permits and hiring contractors takes a lot of time. And then you have to build it.

    “It’s quite a process to actually get a bridge of this type into operation,” she said.

    (The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    AP

    Source link

  • How to ease bridge-crossing fears after collapse of Key Bridge in Baltimore – WTOP News

    How to ease bridge-crossing fears after collapse of Key Bridge in Baltimore – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    A fear of bridges, especially after what happened on the Key Bridge in Baltimore, can be addressed with therapy or using drive-over services on bridges that are known for causing anxiety.

    As engineers studied the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, one thing occurred to Ben Schafer, a bridge expert with the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University: “Most people have some natural trepidation when they’re driving across a large span bridge.”

    Schafer said that for some, waking up to the news of the Key Bridge collapse likely fed “into a fear that they’re already dealing with.”

    Schafer said the public should know that engineers, bridge designers and maintenance professionals view their job as a “solemn responsibility” to ensure the safety and soundness of infrastructure used every day. He added that the profession works to learn from failures like the one that led to the collapse of the bridge.

    That trepidation can be addressed with therapy or using drive-over services on bridges that are known for causing anxiety. Yet, the bridge expert wants people to trust that engineers have their best interests in mind while building a long bridge.

    Psychologist weighs in on ‘gephyrophobia’

    Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University, said she’s sympathetic to Schafer’s concern about fears of crossing bridges being exacerbated by the bridge collapse in Baltimore. However, her grandfather was also an engineer, so she understands the care and concern needed to build a bridge.

    Marsh said some amount of anxiety around bridges is reasonable.

    “So many of the kinds of things that we tend to fear are the result of evolutionary pressures that make us sensitive to certain kinds of danger,” she told WTOP.

    Marsh said the fear of bridges manifests itself through a fear of heights. While many people experience some level of anxiety or fear of going over bridges, some have crippling phobias.

    “The difference between having a fear and a true phobia is that only true phobias interfere with your ability to function and cause significant distress,” said Marsh.

    Among the solutions to deal with the type of phobia that leaves people simply unable to drive over a bridge is some form of treatment, either through behavioral or cognitive behavioral therapy. Both forms are seen as the “gold standard approach’ in combating the fear, the professor said.

    Through therapy, a client is taught to relax on cue. They then take that skill to confront the object causing the fear. A patient might start imagining themselves on a bridge or looking at photos of tall bridges, Marsh said. They may eventually walk over the overpass or, in some cases, drive over it.

    Failing to address the phobia can actually create a situation where the fear is reinforced, she said.

    Most people can successfully overcome those fears with therapy, but there are more immediate solutions. In some areas, a bridge authority may provide a service or access to a business that can transport you across the structure, known as drive-over services.

    “You can ride as a passenger with your eyes shut, imagine that you’re somewhere else while a professional drives your car across the bridge, which I think is a wonderful service,” Marsh said.

    More on the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

    The solution for those who fear the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

    The Chesapeake Bay Bridge has been the subject of lots of social media posts and even YouTube videos, with some dubbing it “the scariest bridge in the world” or “America’s scariest bridge.”

    Many drivers experience such severe fear that, at one time, Maryland provided a drive-over service. Until 2007, the Maryland Transit Authority Police would escort nervous drivers over the bridge before the service was dissolved.

    Several businesses cropped up to fill the void, including the Kent Island Express: Bay Bridge Drive Overs.

    Steven Eskew operates the business that, pre-pandemic, provided an average of 7,000 trips a year. Post-pandemic, Eskew told WTOP he’s closer to just over 5,000 trips a year, although business is ticking up.

    Drivers call Eskew’s business about an hour before heading to the bridge and if they’re eastbound, they give a second call before approaching Annapolis. The meetup point is a weigh station that’s provided in cooperation with the Maryland Transit Authority.

    “And then we just get into their vehicle. They get into their back seat or the passenger seat, whatever they’re comfortable with,” he said. “We drive them across and drop them off at a safe spot on the other side.”

    Eskew said there are regular customers who depend on the service, using his business up to 1-3 times a week. Then there are seasonal travelers who may have heard about his company’s services in advance and use them once or twice a year.

    Then, there is a third type of customer who drives up to the bridge and stops before attempting to cross. In those cases, Eskew’s business may get a call from police or workers for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police who service the bridge to meet the driver.

    “They’ll have a panic attack, and 99% of the time, we can help them,” he said.

    Eskew said there are different reactions from drivers depending on which direction they’re headed. When heading eastbound to the beaches, there are concrete barriers and a curve on either side of the bridge. Some people don’t like not being able to see over to the other side of the overpass, he said.

    “I kind of coin that ‘the Christopher Columbus fear’ because people have the sense that they’re going off the edge,” he told WTOP.

    The westbound trip is harder for other drivers to manage because the barriers are relatively low.

    “I think it’s beautiful, but people are very uncomfortable” with the unobstructed view, Eskew said.

    Once drivers know they don’t have to be behind the wheel, some preferences still stand out. Some enjoy taking in the view without the stress of driving, while others would cover themselves up and hide while crossing the Bay.

    Eskew’s wife even came up with a creative addition to the service; she made sleep masks for customers so they could “just sit back and enjoy the ride,” he said.

    In some cases, customers may take the wheel themselves, while Eskew and others sit on the passenger side and talk to them while they cross the bridge. He said it provides a distraction but can be tricky as some have panicked during the drive.

    The type of vehicles differs, too, but Eskew says his business has transported tractor-trailers and motorcycles across the bridge.

    “We even offer a bicycle service,” he said.

    For cyclists, the issue isn’t fear, he said, but rather that the state doesn’t allow bikes to cross the bridge, so riders who want to get to the Eastern Shore need a way to get their bikes over.

    “The bridge does not discriminate,” Eskew said. “If you don’t like driving the bridge, it is what it is.”

    Eskew’s clients vary in gender, ages and professions, with the majority between the ages of 40 and 60. Airline pilots, psychologists, firefighters — anyone can experience the kind of fear that makes a $40 charge to have someone else do the driving worth it.

    The fear can also crop up from nowhere for people who’ve lived in the area and driven back and forth to the Eastern Shore since they were old enough to drive. Eskew said he hears that a lot.

    “They’re just uncomfortable with the drive,” he said. “Something just clicks … and it just happens.”

    While he’s not up to pre-pandemic numbers, his business did tick up after places reopened because of the stress of driving the Bay Bridge. Relieving that stress is what his business is all about.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Kate Ryan

    Source link

  • Md. longshoreman breaks down economic impact of Baltimore bridge collapse on port workers – WTOP News

    Md. longshoreman breaks down economic impact of Baltimore bridge collapse on port workers – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    ILA local chapter president Scott Cowan joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson to discuss the future impact of the bridge’s collapse on its workers.

    Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333 in Maryland, said the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is a “catastrophic event,” not just for the state’s drivers and the families who lost loved ones, but also the ports’ workers.

    Cowan joined WTOP on Wednesday to discuss the future impact the port’s partial closure will have on its longshoremen.

    ILA local chapter president Scott Cowan joined WTOP’s Anne Kramer and Shawn Anderson to discuss the future impact of the bridge’s collapse

    The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.

    Scott Cowan: There’s about 2,400 ILA union longshoremen in the Port of Baltimore. And last year alone, we worked over four million man hours in the port. So it’s a big impact to the longshoremen and their families and it’s a catastrophic event.

    Anne Kramer: Scott, was your phone ringing off the hook when you learned of what happened? And what have the calls and what have the workers been asking of you and telling you?

    Scott Cowan: Well, the workers are wondering how they’re going to feed their family, if their benefits are going to be protected. And what the future holds for us as the longshoremen of the port of Baltimore.

    Shawn Anderson: Among the companies that you have contracts with, have they given you an indication, has anybody, the government, given you an indication of how long the port might be closed?

    Scott Cowan: It’s really too early to tell. The Army Corps of Engineers and surveyors will determine those things and then they’ll bring assets in to dredge and salvage the steel and concrete and all that stuff and clear the shipping channel out. It all depends. I mean, you got a lot of factors going into this, it isn’t just as easy as it may seem to some

    Anne Kramer: Scott, explain for our listeners so they can better understand what it looks like at the port right now versus what it usually looks like with all the ships going in and out. What is happening now? And is there any indication since they stopped this shipping traffic? Are there ships that are actually stuck inside the port?

    Scott Cowan: There’s a couple ships inside the harbor that are here. The cargo in the terminals will quickly dwindle as it gets delivered out by truck, or rail, or various other ways. Once the delivering of the cargo dwindles, then more and more longshoremen will be laid off. There’ll be a little bit of maintenance to be done to keep the terminals operational, but the cargo is the driver here.

    Shawn Anderson: What else would you like us to know about the situation for your union members?

    Scott Cowan: During the pandemic, our longshoreman didn’t miss a day, unloading and loading ships, getting products to market that everybody was in such desperate need of, and now it seems like it’s turned, where now longshoremen are in desperate need of making a living to feed their families. The consumers will still get their goods from other ports via truck. It’s not just the 2,400 long ILA longshoreman, you got almost 20,000 direct jobs attached to this port and 100,000 indirect jobs. It’s a big economic impact to the state of Maryland to the tune of $191 million a day.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Ciara Wells

    Source link

  • 2 bodies found in submerged pickup truck following Baltimore bridge collapse

    2 bodies found in submerged pickup truck following Baltimore bridge collapse

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE — Two bodies were recovered from a red pickup truck found in the water near the middle span of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maryland State Police said during a press briefing.

    The two men were located by divers shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to Roland Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police. The truck was submerged in approximately 25 feet of water, he said.

    Police identified the victims as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, a native of Mexico who lived in Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, a native of Guatemala who lived in Dundalk. They were both construction workers, authorities said.

    One was identified by a driver’s license in his pocket and the other by fingerprint, authorities said.

    Crews are searching for four others who fell into the water and are presumed dead.

    Maryland State Police say 2 bodies found in water after bridge collapse

    How the collapse happened

    Just hours before the Tuesday morning commute was to get underway, the crew of a massive cargo ship leaving Baltimore harbor lost propulsion and control of the vessel, causing it to crash into a support column of the Key Bridge, triggering a catastrophic collapse of the 1.6-mile long span and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.

    The transportation disaster unfolded about 1:35 a.m., prompting a major emergency response from Baltimore police, firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard as authorities estimated that up to 20 vehicles went into the water along with several workers who were part of a maintenance team fixing potholes on the span, officials said.

    “I can tell you, our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said at a news conference early Tuesday.

    Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the depth of the water in the area where the crash occurred is about 50 feet.

    What we know about the missing workers

    We’re learning more about those who have died as the search continues for the remaining missing workers in the Patapsco River.

    The workers were part of the maintenance crew repairing the asphalt on the bridge.

    Miguel Luna, who was originally from El Salvador was a married father of three children.

    Another missing victim was identified as Maynor Suazo Sandoval, a father of two who migrated from Honduras over 17 years ago, according to Gustavo Torres, the executive director of CASA, an immigration and Latino advocacy-and-assistance organization.

    He dreamed of starting a small business and brought joy and humor to his family, Torres told reporters on Wednesday.

    Other workers who remain unaccounted for are believed to be from Mexico and Honduras.

    RELATED: What we know about the missing workers after Baltimore bridge collapse as recovery efforts resume

    Ship was carrying hazardous materials: NTSB

    A hazmat investigator looked into the cargo on the container ship and identified 56 containers of hazardous materials, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said Wednesday evening.

    The 56 containers hold 764 tons of hazardous materials that include “mostly corrosives, flammables, and miscellaneous Class 9 hazardous materials, which would include lithium-ion batteries,” Homendy said.

    Some of the hazmat containers had been “breached,” and there has been “sheen” seen on the waterway, which state and local authorities are aware of and investigating, according to officials.

    Homendy said it wasn’t known how many hazardous containers were in the water after the incident.

    There were 23 people aboard Dali at the time of the collision, 21 crew members and two pilots, according to the NTSB chair.

    During the briefing, Homedy said the data recorders they have access to are considered basic compared to a commercial plane.

    The ship’s voice data recorder only captured limited information, she said.

    The U.S. Coast Guard provided the NTSB with six hours of data between midnight and 6 a.m. ET upon arrival.

    Officials said on Wednesday that the quality of audio from the box “varies wildly” because of the high level of background noise, which will have to be filtered out to improve the audio quality.

    They expect to recover 30 days of data from the data recorders, she said.

    Addressing the collision, the NTSB said that current data points to a power failure, but they have not confirmed that or a possible reason for the likely power failure.

    NTSB gives update on March 27, 2024, following Baltimore bridge collapse

    ‘Abundance of twisted metal’

    Imagery from underwater drones shows “an abundance of twisted metal and debris” from the collapsed Key Bridge, making it unsafe for divers to enter the water, according to a new assessment of the situation from the Department of Homeland Security obtained Wednesday by ABC News.

    According to the report, “one truck and trailer” has been recovered from the water and a vehicle remains hanging from the metal structure of the collapsed bridge.

    Investigators also determined there are 13 damaged containers aboard the cargo ship that are being inspected for any potentially hazardous materials.

    RELATED: NTSB combing through voyage-data recorder to build crash timeline in Baltimore bridge collapse

    “There is minor sheening on-scene. Booming has been ordered and is staged but will not be placed until search and rescue and dive operations are complete. The amount of potential oil spill is 1.8 [million] gallons of marine grade diesel,” according to the document.

    During a White House press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, deputy commandant for operations for the U.S. Coast Guard, said the cargo ship was loaded with 4,700 containers, 56 of which contained hazardous materials.

    “Most of these things are things like mineral oils and, even though they’re hazardous, we’ve determined that there really isn’t any kind of threat to the public,” said Gautier, adding that the two containers that went into the water did not contain hazardous materials.

    MORE | 10 other ships stuck in Port of Baltimore

    This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a view of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that was struck by a container ship in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

    Maxaar Technologies via AP

    Gautier also said there was no sign that the container ship was leaking fuel or was taking on water.

    At the same White House press briefing, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that while there is no estimate yet on how much it will cost to rebuild the bridge, he said it “will not be quick, easy or cheap.”

    ‘We’re with you,’ Biden tells Baltimore residents

    During a press conference Tuesday afternoon from the White House, President Joe Biden said he had authorized federal resources to be used in the search and rescue operation.

    “We’re incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the scene. And to the people of Baltimore, we want to say, we’re with you, we’re going to stay with you for as long as it takes,” said Biden.

    The president echoed local, state and federal officials who said investigators have found no evidence linking the incident to terrorism. Biden called it a “terrible incident and accident.”

    RELATED: How to manage your fears after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

    Biden pledged that the federal government would pay to replace the bridge, which was built in the 1970s at the cost of $110 million, the equivalent of $500 million in 2024 accounting for inflation.

    President Joe Biden delivered remarks after a cargo ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse.

    The FBI, which arrived at the scene an hour after the incident, confirmed that no link to terrorism was involved, according to Bill DelBagno, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office.

    Power issues reported before crash

    According to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the cargo ship reported the power issues that prompted multiple alarms on the bridge of the vessel and loss of propulsion. The pilots were operating the ship, not the ship’s captain, according to Wiedefeld.

    PHOTOS: Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after cargo ship rams into support column

    A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md.

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Biden said local authorities were alerted of the pending disaster and closed the bridge to traffic before the crash, “which undoubtedly saved lives.”

    Officials said the container ship was moving at a speed of 8 knots, or about 9 mph, when it struck the bridge. They said the disaster could have been much worse had authorities not stopped cars from going onto the bridge.

    Moore described the crash as “unprecedented.”

    “To hear the words that the Key Bridge has collapsed, it’s shocking and heartbreaking,” Moore said.

    All workers on the container ship were accounted for, according to the Coast Guard memo.

    Moore said there were no structural issues with the bridge, saying it was “fully up to code.”

    MORE | Who was Francis Scott Key, whose namesake bridge fell? His poem became ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

    Francis Scott Key observes the bombardment and the U.S. flag over Fort McHenry.

    Francis Scott Key observes the bombardment and the U.S. flag over Fort McHenry.

    Getty Images

    The White House said that after learning of the incident, Biden convened senior members of his team for a briefing on the bridge collapse. During the briefing, the president directed his team to ensure all federal resources be made available to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts, White House officials said.

    Previous deficiencies found on cargo ship

    Danish shipping company Maersk chartered the Dali cargo ship, a spokesperson for the company told ABC News in a statement.

    “We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected. We can confirm that the container vessel ‘DALI’, operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group, is time chartered by Maersk and is carrying Maersk customers’ cargo. No Maersk crew and personnel were onboard the vessel. We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed,” the Maersk spokesperson said.

    The Dali cargo ship had two deficiencies since it was built in 2015, according to records from the Electronic Quality Shipping Information System (Equasis).

    The most recent deficiency was given on June 27, 2023, during an inspection in the port of San Antonio, Chile. The deficiency was for “propulsion and auxiliary machinery” concerning gauges and thermometers, according to Equasis. The other deficiency was given in 2016 for “structural conditions” concerning a damaged hull “impairing seaworthiness.”

    RELATED: Officials stopped traffic onto Baltimore’s Key Bridge before collapse: ‘These people are heroes’

    The records show that the last inspection of the container ship was on Sept. 13, 2023, in New York.

    Dramatic security video captured the vessel striking one of the main support columns holding up the center cantilevered section of the bridge, causing the span to break apart in several sections and sending twisted metal into the water onto the bow of the Dali as black smoke began to pour from the vessel.

    Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said.

    Two of the construction workers who were on the bridge and survived, including one who ran from the bridge and the other who fell into the water and swam ashore, according to the latest internal Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.

    Just minutes before the crash, the video showed traffic flowing on the bridge, but the traffic almost disappeared before impact.

    After reviewing traffic cameras, Maryland transportation officials confirmed “no vehicles [were] transiting the bridge at the time of the incident,” according to the latest internal Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.

    The pilot who was at the controls of the ship “is currently undergoing post-accident Drug and Alcohol Testing,” the briefing said.

    The Dali “remains impaled in the bridge,” the document said, adding that several shipping containers with undisclosed cargo fell into the water. There is hull damage above the water line of the vessel, but the ship is maintaining watertight integrity,” according to the document.

    Had the crash occurred a few hours later at the height of the morning commute the bridge would have likely been packed with commuters. The bridge is part of the heavily traveled Interstate 695 linking Baltimore to Washington, D.C. An estimated 11.5 million vehicles cross the bridge annually, or about 30,000 per day, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

    The bridge, which opened on March 23, 1977, had just celebrated its 47th anniversary.

    The crash shut down the seaport, which serves more than 50 ocean carrier companies whose vessels make about 1,800 annual visits to the port, according to state officials.

    ABC News’ Victoria Arancio, Alex Grainger, Sam Sweeney and Felicia Alvarez contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

    [ad_2]

    ABCNews

    Source link

  • ‘All hands on deck’: Divers plunge in search of 6 workers feared dead after Baltimore bridge collapse – WTOP News

    ‘All hands on deck’: Divers plunge in search of 6 workers feared dead after Baltimore bridge collapse – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    Recovery efforts are underway as divers plunge back into Patapsco River Wednesday morning with hopes of recovering the bodies of six construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship rammed into the bridge, causing it to collapse.

    Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM for our team coverage.

    A Coast Guard cutter passes a cargo ship that is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship his the bridge Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)(Courtesy AP/Steve Helber)

    Recovery efforts are underway as divers plunge back into Patapsco River Wednesday morning with hopes of recovering the bodies of six construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning when a powerless cargo ship rammed into the bridge, causing it to collapse.

    The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search and recovery operation for the workers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying that due to the amount of time that had elapsed since the initial collapse and the cold water temperatures, they did not expect to find any of the workers alive.

    Even though the operation has shifted away from search and rescue, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday morning there’s still a sense of urgency in the recovery mission.

    “The top priority for me right now is still the recovery, we’ve got to bring these families closure,” Moore said Wednesday.

    The governor ordered that Maryland flags be flown at half-staff until further notice to honor the victims.

    The divers have already been back in the water searching for hours, Moore said just before 8:30 a.m.

    “I can’t stress enough the heroism of these folks,” Moore said. “They are in frigid conditions, they are down there in darkness where they can literally see about a foot in front of them. They are trying to navigate mangled metal. And they’re also in a place that it is now presumed that people have lost their lives.”

    More Key Bridge collapse coverage:

    Reports came in around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday that a large vessel had crashed into a column in the central part of the bridge that carries north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695. It’s not clear what caused the actual crash, but the ship’s crew notified authorities of a power issue through a mayday call before it struck the bridge.

    Sound of first responders from Broadcastify/AP

    Radio communication between emergency responders illustrates how police had roughly 90 seconds to cut off traffic on the bridge before it crumbled.

    The officers can be heard discussing how traffic must be stopped to make sure no one is on the bridge because a ship lost control of its steering. They mention the construction crew.

    Around a minute into the recording, the vessel struck the bridge and a destructive scene immediately unfolded.

    “The whole bridge just fell down,” one officer said. “Start, start whoever, everybody … the whole bridge just collapsed.”

    Because of the warning, Moore said port authority workers were able to stop traffic and prevent more vehicles from traveling onto the bridge.

    “These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives last night.”

    Two other workers were rescued, with one of them remaining in serious condition as of Tuesday night, Moore said. The other was uninjured. Their crew was repairing potholes on the bridge when the container ship crashed into it, Paul Wiedefeld, the state’s transportation secretary, said.

    Jesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the crew, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks.

    Among the missing were people from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, according to diplomats from those countries.

    Guatemala’s consulate in Maryland confirmed that two of the missing were Guatemalan citizens working on the bridge

    Three Mexicans were on the bridge. One was rescued, and two are missing, said Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

    The Honduran man was identified as Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval by that country’s deputy foreign affairs minister.

    While U.S. authorities have not named any of the construction workers, a Maryland-based immigrant rights group said one of its longtime members is among those who are presumed dead. In a news release, CASA said Miguel Luna, from El Salvador was missing.

    The group said Luna was “a husband, a father of three, and has called Maryland his home for over 19 years.”

    Maryland State Police said there is no evidence anyone went into the water, other than the workers, but they haven’t discounted the possibility.

    Synergy Marine Group, manages the ship, which is called Dali. In a news release the group said one crew member who was injured on the vessel was taken to the hospital and later discharged. All other crew members along with the two pilots are safe.

    The management group also said its emergency response team is in Baltimore, “to support the ongoing efforts to ensure crew safety, maintain vessel integrity and facilitate the swift and safe reopening of the waterway.”

    Investigators board ship

    The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, and the agency’s chair Jennifer Homendy said she believes a small team briefly boarded the ship Tuesday night.

    “The preliminary investigation points to an accident,” Moore said.

    Investigators had previously held off on boarding the ship earlier in the day to make room for the Coast Guard’s search efforts, she said.

    The U.S. Coast Guard was able to get the voyage data recorder off the ship, Homendy told WTOP.

    NTSB was able to download the recorder and send it off to a lab, she said.

    “That will give us help, give us a lot of information about the vessel and the operation of the vessel,” Homendy said. “It will begin to develop a timeline of events for us of what led to the striking of the bridge.”

    A larger group of investigators is expected to board the ship Wednesday in search of indicators that could point to what went wrong onboard, Homendy said. That gathering of evidence will include collecting electronic information like logs as well as documenting information about the vessel and the bridge.

    While she said officials’ highest priority is the recovery effort for the construction workers, NTSB is also working to collect evidence while the wreckage is still in place.

    “This will get cleaned up and moved very quickly at some point, and that all of that evidence would be gone,” she said, adding that it’s “utter devastation.”

    Major shipping hub shut down to vessel traffic

    Baltimore’s Key Bridge was built in 1977 and named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that, along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

    Ship traffic entering and leaving the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. Maryland Congressman David Trone was told in a briefing the port’s closure will cost the economy at least $15 million a day, according to a statement from his office.

    The crash will disrupt the country’s shipping industry and undoubtedly create headaches for commuters who reply on the bridge.

    President Joe Biden said the federal government should pay for rebuilding the bridge, and Moore said he’s discussing his legislative options to speed up the recovery with Maryland’s General Assembly and the Biden administration.

    “We know that this is going to have to be all hands on deck when we’re talking about the long-term recovery and for what it’s going to mean, not just for elements of the Key Bridge, but all the other elements that this has impacted,” Moore said.

    Trone, who is a member of the house appropriations committee, echoed that it will be a team effort to rebuild.

    “Right now at the federal level, we’re actively exploring the use of ‘quick release’ emergency relief funds in partnership with Secretary Buttigieg and the urgent deployment of Congressionally approved funding,” Trone wrote in a statement Wednesday.

    In 2023, the port handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo. Moore said the harbor is responsible for $191 million of economic activity daily.

    “For everybody who was buying cars, for everybody who was buying farm equipment, we’re the largest port in the country that does that,” he said Wednesday morning while speaking with reporters. “This is not just impacting Maryland.”

    Moore said he’s “overwhelmed” by the amount of support from fellow governors, philanthropists and others looking to help.

    “Maryland, we really appreciate the love that’s been coming from around the country and the support,” Moore said. “I tell them, the people who need it most of these families>”

    WTOP’s Luke Lukert and Ciara Wells and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Jessica Kronzer

    Source link

  • 6 presumed dead following Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse; Coast Guard suspends search

    6 presumed dead following Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse; Coast Guard suspends search

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE — A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead, and the search for them was suspended until the next day.

    The ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span, Maryland’s governor said.

    The ship struck one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to collapse like a toy. A section of the span came to rest on the bow of the vessel, which caught fire.

    Video shows Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse after ship strike

    With the ship barreling toward the bridge at “a very, very rapid speed,” authorities had just enough time to stop cars from coming over the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.

    “These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives last night.”

    In the evening, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police, announced that the search and rescue mission was transitioning to one of search and recovery. He also said the search was being put on pause and divers would return to the site at 6 a.m. Wednesday, when challenging overnight conditions are expected to improve.

    RELATED: ‘We are Baltimore strong’: Leaders, athletes react to Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

    The crash happened in the middle of the night, long before the busy morning commute on the bridge that stretches 1.6 miles and was used by 12 million vehicles last year.

    Authorities announce 6 presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse; U.S. Coast Guard suspends active search

    The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge, said Paul Wiedefeld, the state’s transportation secretary.

    Rescuers pulled two people out of the water. One person was treated at a hospital and discharged hours later.

    READ MORE: Here’s what surprised a Drexel University professor about the Baltimore bridge collapse

    Five submerged vehicles have also been found in the water, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told CNN.

    Authorities have been able to find three passenger vehicles, a cement truck and a fifth vehicle submerged in the water using infrared and side-scan sonar technology, according to Wallace.

    A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md.

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    “It looked like something out of an action movie,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”

    Given the vessel’s massive weight, it struck the bridge support with significant force, said Roberto Leon, a Virginia Tech engineering professor.

    RELATED: What the cargo ship bridge crash in Baltimore means for the economy

    “The only way the post can resist it is by bending,” Leon said. “But it cannot absorb anywhere near the energy that this humongous ship is bringing. So it’s going to break.”

    Last June, federal inspectors rated the 47-year-old bridge in fair condition. But the structure did not appear to have pier protection to withstand the crash, experts said.

    Five submerged vehicles have also been found in the water.

    “If a bridge pier without adequate protection is hit by a ship of this size, there is very little that the bridge could do,” Leon said.

    ALSO SEE: A list of major US bridge collapses caused by ships and barges

    A police dispatcher put out a call just before the collapse saying a ship had lost its steering and asked officers to stop all traffic on the bridge, according to Maryland Transportation Authority first responder radio traffic obtained from the Broadcastify.com archive.

    One officer who stopped traffic radioed that he was going to drive onto the bridge to alert the construction crew. But seconds later, a frantic officer said: “The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever, everybody … the whole bridge just collapsed.”

    On a separate radio channel for maintenance and construction workers, someone said officers were stopping traffic because a ship had lost steering. There was no follow-up order to evacuate, and 30 seconds later the bridge fell and the channel went silent.

    Impacts from the collapse

    From 1960 to 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collision, according to the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.

    The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.

    Helicopter video shows the aftermath of a Baltimore bridge collapse after being hit by a ship.

    “Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.

    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet (15 meters) deep.

    “I do not know of a bridge that has been constructed to withstand a direct impact from a vessel of this size,” he said.

    Carnival Cruise Line said Tuesday that it is temporarily moving its Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

    Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, March 31. Officials said guests will return to Norfolk on Sunday and be bussed back to Baltimore.

    The next seven-day Carnival Legend trip scheduled for March 31 will operate out of Norfolk.

    The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m., officials say

    Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas is set to return to Baltimore on April 4, however no official changes have been made.

    “We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and extend our heartfelt prayers to all those impacted. We are closely monitoring the situation, and our port logistics team is currently working on alternatives for Vision of the Seas’ ongoing and upcoming sailings,” said a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean.

    ‘It felt like an earthquake’

    According to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the cargo ship reported the power issues that prompted multiple alarms on the bridge of the vessel and loss of propulsion.

    Synergy Marine Group – which manages the ship, called the Dali – confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while in control of one or more pilots, who are local specialists who help guide vessels safely into and out of ports. The ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd.

    Synergy said all crew members and the two pilots on board were accounted for, and there were no reports of any injuries.

    The ship was moving at 8 knots, roughly 9 mph (14.8 kph), the governor said.

    PHOTOS: Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after cargo ship rams into support column

    A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md.

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Jagged remnants of the bridge could be seen jutting up from the water’s surface. The on-ramp ended abruptly where the span once began.

    Donald Heinbuch, a retired chief with Baltimore’s fire department, said he was startled awake by a deep rumbling that shook his house for several seconds. “It felt like an earthquake,” he said.

    He drove to the river’s edge and couldn’t believe what he saw.

    Baltimore Governor Wes Moore discusses latest updates after 6 presumed dead in bridge collapse

    “The ship was there, and the bridge was in the water, like it was blown up,” he said.

    The bridge spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor, which leads to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore — the 9th largest port in the U.S. — is suspended until further notice, however, officials said the port is still open for truck transactions.

    President Joe Biden said he planned to travel to Baltimore and intends for the federal government to pick up the entire cost of rebuilding.

    RELATED: The history of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge

    “This is going to take some time,” Biden said.

    Where was the ship going?

    The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, according to the website.

    Inspectors found a problem with the Dali’s machinery in June, but a more recent examination did not identify any deficiencies, according to the shipping information system Equasis.

    READ MORE: How to manage your fears after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

    The most recent inspection listed for the Dali was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard in New York in September. The “standard examination” didn’t identify any deficiencies, according to the Equasis data.

    Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel.

    The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

    This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the overview of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., on May 6, 2023.

    (Maxaar Technologies via AP)

    Last year, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo worth $80 billion, according to the state.

    The head of a supply chain management company said Americans should expect shortages of goods from the effect of the collapse on ocean container shipping and East Coast trucking.

    “It’s not just the port of Baltimore that’s going to be impacted,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport.

    The collapse, though, is not likely to hurt worldwide trade because Baltimore is not a major port for container vessels, but its facilities are more important when it comes to goods such as farm equipment and autos, said Judah Levine, head of research for global freight booking platform Freightos.

    Detours and logistics

    Drivers are being told to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor and use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.

    “I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 (Peninsula Expressway) and northbound at Exit 2 (Route 10),” Wiedefeld said.

    ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    KTRK

    Source link

  • ‘This is an unforeseen situation’: Cruises out of Baltimore may move to alternate cities, expert says – WTOP News

    ‘This is an unforeseen situation’: Cruises out of Baltimore may move to alternate cities, expert says – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    With vessel traffic suspended at the Port of Baltimore due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Tuesday, people who have cruises booked are wondering what changes might be in store for them in the days ahead.

    Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM for our team coverage.

    With vessel traffic suspended at the Port of Baltimore due to Tuesday morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, people with cruises booked are wondering what changes might be in store for them in the days ahead.

    It is a busy departure point, with more than 400,000 people having cruised out of the port last year.

    However, cruise ships will likely need to find other ports to use in the meantime.

    “Any time you book a cruise, there’s a part of the contract that most people don’t read that says a cruise line can substitute ports in the event of an act of God or a force majeure,” explained CBS News travel editor, Peter Greenberg.

    According to Greenberg, cruise lines that would normally operate out of Baltimore may likely shift to Philadelphia, Brooklyn or Bayonne, New Jersey.

    More Key Bridge collapse content:

    Carnival Cruise Line has a ship currently at sea that is set to return to Baltimore on Sunday. A spokesman for the company told WTOP they’re “currently evaluating options” for the ship’s scheduled return.

    The cruise line announced later on Tuesday that it would temporarily move its Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia.

    Royal Caribbean International also has a ship currently out and set to return to Baltimore on April 4. A spokesperson for that company said that its logistics team was “working on alternatives” for ongoing and upcoming sailings.

    “The cruise ships will do everything they can (to not) get to a situation where they have to cancel a cruise,” Greenberg said. “So in this situation, they’ll look for alternate ports.”

    Cruise passengers who planned exiting their ship in Baltimore will likely need to take a bus or plane back to the city from wherever they do land, Greenberg said.

    “This is a very unique situation,” said Scott Carrozza, owner of First Class Travel Incorporated, a travel agency in McLean, Virginia. “I have never seen this before.”

    Carrozza told WTOP that he expected cruise ship companies to be flexible.

    “There will probably be waivers and changes allowed without any penalties because this is an unforeseen situation,” Carrozza said.

    It was not immediately clear how long vessel traffic would be suspended in and out of the Port of Baltimore.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Nick Iannelli

    Source link

  • President Biden pledges support for Baltimore in wake of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

    President Biden pledges support for Baltimore in wake of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE — President Joe Biden gave remarks Tuesday on the Baltimore bridge collapse, telling residents “we’re going to stay with you as long as it takes.”

    “It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstruction in that bridge. I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said from the White House.

    President Joe Biden delivered remarks after a cargo ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse.

    “This is going to take some time,” the president said, adding, “We’re not leaving until this job gets done.”

    Personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, and local authorities were able to close the bridge before it was struck, “which undoubtedly saved lives,” Biden told reporters.

    FBI divers assist in the search and rescue at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Tuesday, March 26, in Baltimore, Maryland.

    Courtesy of FBI Baltimore

    A cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Baltimore harbor early Tuesday morning, leading to a near-total collapse of the span and sending vehicles plunging into the frigid water below.

    RELATED | ‘We are Baltimore strong’: Leaders, athletes react to Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

    A search-and-rescue effort is underway, with divers and emergency personnel desperately combing the area for people believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge, officials said. At least six people are unaccounted for, officials said.

    It appears the crash was a “terrible accident,” Biden said.

    He said the search and rescue operation is the top priority.

    Video shows Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse after ship strike

    Biden, who noted he’s been over the bridge many times, said he plans to visit Baltimore as soon as possible.

    “Ship traffic and the port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice. And we’ll need to clear that channel before the ship traffic can resume,” the president said.

    “Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and all the families, especially those waiting for news of their loved one right now,” Biden said. “I know every minute in that circumstance feels like a lifetime, you just don’t know. It’s just terrible.”

    RELATED | The history of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge

    “We’re incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the scene and to the people of Baltimore. I want to say, we’re with you,” the president said. “We’re going to stay with you, as long as it takes. And like the governor said, ‘you’re Maryland tough, you’re Baltimore strong and we’re going to get through this together.’”

    Biden convened senior members of his team Tuesday morning for a briefing on the ongoing response and directed them to ensure all federal resources are made available, the White House said.

    ABC News’ Mariam Khan, Emily Shapiro and Kevin Shalvey contributed to this report.

    Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

    [ad_2]

    ABCNews

    Source link

  • What We Know About the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

    What We Know About the Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

    [ad_1]

    Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

    Early Tuesday morning, a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the structure to collapse into the Patapsco River below. Maryland governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency as search teams comb the frigid waters for at least six people who are currently missing following the collapse. Here’s what we know so far about the incident.

    At 1:27 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard was notified that a 948-foot container ship had struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in a collapse of the bridge. During an initial press conference, fire officials said the department received a call at 1:40 a.m. about a water rescue in the area of the bridge with more reports continuing to come in. Units began to arrive on the scene at 1:50 a.m.; they reported that the bridge had fully collapsed and that there were likely several people on it when the ship struck the structure.

    Search-and-rescue teams have saved two people so far. One person was unharmed and refused treatment while another was transported to a nearby trauma center “in very serious condition.” Baltimore fire chief James Wallace told reporters early that morning that teams are searching for “upwards of seven people” but said that figure was preliminary and could change as the search continues. Sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water.

    During a subsequent press conference, officials confirmed that eight people were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, with two of them now accounted for. The Baltimore Banner reports that the missing people are believed to be members of a construction crew that were working on the bridge repairing potholes when the ship struck.

    The Coast Guard is taking part in the search, providing three small boats, an 87-foot-long patrol boat, and a helicopter. The FBI’s Baltimore office said on social media that its personnel are on the scene alongside its “local, state and federal partners.” The National Transportation Safety Board is also sending a team to Baltimore, per NBC News.

    Governor Moore issued an official state of emergency, saying in a statement that his office is working to “quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration.” The governor told reporters that the incident did not appear to be the result of a deliberate attack. “The preliminary investigation points to an accident. We haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack,” he said.

    President Joe Biden commented on the collapse this afternoon, offering his prayers to everyone involved in the incident and indicating that he intends to travel to Baltimore as soon as possible. “It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge and I expect the Congress to support my effort,” he said. “This is going to take some time and the people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt.”

    The ship involved in the incident is the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Dali, which was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka. An unclassified memo from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the Coast Guard reported that the Dali had “lost propulsion” as it was leaving Baltimore Harbor, per CBS News. The ship notified the local transportation department that it had lost control of the vessel.

    Moore said that the ship was able to issue a “mayday” call which allowed officials to halt traffic prior to the bridge collapse, likely saving more lives.

    Synergy Marine Group, the company operating the ship, said in a statement that its two pilots and its entire crew have all been accounted for and there are currently no reports of injuries. CNN reports that the ship was using local pilots to navigate the ship, a common occurrence that is meant to minimize situations like this.

    The 1.6-mile-long bridge was part of I-695 and was one of Baltimore’s toll crossings. The Baltimore Sun reports that the Francis Scott Key Bridge transported 12.4 million passenger and commercial vehicles in 2023.

    The Maryland Transportation Authority is diverting traffic from the area of the bridge, urging commuters to use I-95 or I-895 instead. The Port of Baltimore announced that vessel traffic in and out of the port is suspended indefinitely following the collapse, but said that trucks are still being processed within its terminals.

    The FAA has implemented flight restrictions around the site of the collapse, issuing a warning on social media to drone pilots to not interfere with emergency operations.

    [ad_2]

    By Nia Prater

    Source link

  • Urgent search underway after major Baltimore bridge collapse, 2 rescued | LIVE

    Urgent search underway after major Baltimore bridge collapse, 2 rescued | LIVE

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday after losing propulsion, causing a “catastrophic collapse,” sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.

    A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.

    “At this time, it is an active search and rescue mission,” said Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld. “We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge.”

    At a press conference early Tuesday morning officials said two people were rescued, with one of those people said to be in very serious condition. The other person did not need medical treatment.

    The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred due to ship strike.

    The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for those who remain unaccounted for as a result of the bridge collapse.

    What to know about the collapse

    “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,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”

    The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”

    A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

    The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.

    Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.

    Helicopter video shows the aftermath of a Baltimore bridge collapse after being hit by a ship.

    “An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.

    “This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”

    Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

    He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.

    The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m., officials say

    He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.

    The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Ship lost propulsion, warned of collision, CISA report says

    An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said the container ship Dali “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision.

    The crew notified officials that they had lost control, the report said.

    “The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and an collision with the bridge was possible,” the report said. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”

    The waterway into and out of the port has been closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.

    The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.

    A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.

    “All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.

    The company said the 22 crew members, including the pilots, were based in India.

    The cause of the crash is “yet to be determined,” the statement said.

    ‘No indications this was an intentional act,’ Mayorkas says

    Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said “there are no indications this was an intentional act,” adding, “we are assessing the impacts to the Port of Baltimore.”

    “Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured,” he said.

    Detours and logistics

    Drivers are being told to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor and use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.

    “I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 (Peninsula Expressway) and northbound at Exit 2 (Route 10),” Wiedefeld said.

    MDOT, USCG give update on Baltimore bridge collapse

    Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice, however, officials said the port is still open for truck transactions.

    The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

    ALSO SEE: A list of major US bridge collapses caused by ships and barges

    It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    Last year, more than 12 million cars traversed over the bridge, according to ABC News.

    From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.

    Governor declares state of emergency

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.

    “We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.

    White House ‘closely monitoring’ bridge collapse

    The White House said early Tuesday it was “closely monitoring” the situation in Baltimore, where a cargo ship struck a major bridge.

    “Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident,” a White House official said.

    There was no indication of “any nefarious intent,” an official said.

    President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the collapse and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day, the official said.

    Senior White House officials have been in touch with the Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor to offer any federal assistance they need, the administration said.

    Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.

    FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.

    “We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.

    In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

    ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    WLS

    Source link

  • Baltimore bridge collapse: Rescue operation underway after people, vehicles plunge into water | LIVE

    Baltimore bridge collapse: Rescue operation underway after people, vehicles plunge into water | LIVE

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.

    What to know about the collapse

    “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,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”

    The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”

    A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

    The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.

    The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink.

    Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.

    Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.

    “An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.

    The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

    A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.

    It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    “This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”

    Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

    He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.

    Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

    Aerial view of Baltimore bridge collapse

    He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.

    The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.

    Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.

    “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”

    Governor declares state of emergency

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.

    “We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.

    Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.

    FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.

    “We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.

    In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

    ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

    [ad_2]

    ABCNews

    Source link

  • Baltimore bridge collapse: Rescue operations underway after people, vehicles plunge into water

    Baltimore bridge collapse: Rescue operations underway after people, vehicles plunge into water

    [ad_1]

    BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.

    What to know about the collapse

    “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,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”

    The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”

    A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

    The container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.

    The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink.

    Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for least seven people in the water, the department said.

    The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.

    A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.

    It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    “This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”

    Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

    He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.

    Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”

    He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.

    The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.

    Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.

    “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”

    Governor declares state of emergency

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.

    “We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.

    Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.

    FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.

    In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

    ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

    Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

    [ad_2]

    ABCNews

    Source link

  • Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after ship struck it, sending vehicles into water – WTOP News

    Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after ship struck it, sending vehicles into water – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    A large vessel crashed into a column in the central part of the bridge carrying north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695, catching on fire before causing multiple vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River.

    Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM for the latest traffic conditions.

    The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, has collapsed after a large container boat collided with it early Tuesday morning.

    Reports came in around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday that a large vessel crashed into a column in the central part of the bridge carrying north and southbound lanes of Interstate 695, catching on fire before causing multiple vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River below.

    At least seven vehicles, including at least one tractor-trailer-sized vehicle, fell into the water, Baltimore City Fire spokesman Kevin Cartwright told WTOP.

    The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (Courtesy StreamTimeLIve via YouTube)

    Rescuers were searching for at least seven people in the water.

    “This is a dire emergency,” Cartwright, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”

    He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

    Petty officer Matthew West from the Coast Guard in Baltimore told WTOP that a container ship flying under a Singapore flag crashed into the bridge. The vessel, called “Dali,” was headed through Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its final destination, according to Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder maps and data.

    The Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X around 2 a.m. that all lanes were closed in both directions for an “incident” on the bridge, and later posted that traffic was being detoured to Interstate 95 and Interstate 895, the department said.

    Baltimore Mayor Brendon Scott posted he was aware of the situation and would be en route to the bridge with other city and state leaders.

    “Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he said in a post on X.

    Maryland Governor Wes Moore said on Facebook that he has declared a state of emergency, and that his office is working with the Biden Administration to quickly deploy federal resources.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Stay with WTOP for the latest.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Ciara Wells

    Source link