Current:Home > NewsWhat we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse -Wealth Empowerment Academy
What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse
View
Date:2025-04-12 02:32:08
BALTIMORE (AP) — A cargo ship rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Bridge early Tuesday, causing the span to collapse and rescuers to launch a massive search for at least six people who are missing.
Here’s what we know so far about the disaster:
What exactly happened?
The operators of the Dali cargo ship issued a mayday call that the vessel had lost power moments before the crash, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. But he said the ship was still barreling toward the span at “a very, very rapid speed.”
The 985-foot (300-meter) long vessel struck one of the 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) bridge’s supports, causing the span to break and drop into the water within seconds. The ship caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.
Synergy Marine Group, which manages the ship, said it was in the control of one or more pilots, who are local specialists who help navigate vessels safely into ports.
The ship was moving at 8 knots, which is roughly 9 mph (15 kph), when it struck the span, the governor said.
How many people are missing?
Two people were rescued, but officials said six people were still unaccounted for as of late morning. All were believed to be part of a construction crew that was repairing potholes on the bridge.
Sonar had detected cars in the water, which is about 50 feet (15 meters) deep. The water temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) before dawn Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press that several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, including one the size of a tractor-trailer. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event,” though he didn’t know how many people were affected.
The ship is owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., which said all crew members, including the two pilots, were accounted for and there were no reports of injuries involving anyone who was on board.
The ship’s warning enabled authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span. Plus, the accident occurred at 1:30 a.m., long before the busy morning rush, when thousands of cars ordinarily cross the span.
WHAT IMPACT COULD THIS HAVE?
All ship traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice, though the port remains open to trucks, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
Last year, the port handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo worth $80 billion, according to the state. In addition to cargo, more than than 444,000 passengers cruised out of the port in 2023.
The port is a major East Coast hub for shipping. The bridge spans the Patapsco River, which massive cargo ships use to reach the Chesapeake Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic.
Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel, which was carrying its customers’ cargo. No Maersk crew and personnel were on board. But the collapse caused Maersk share at the Nasdaq Copenhagen to plummet 2% in early Tuesday trading.
HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?
From 1960 to 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collisions, with a total of 342 people killed, according to a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.
Eighteen of those collapses happened in the United States.
Among them were a 2002 incident in which a barge struck the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, sending vehicles plunging into the water. Fourteen people died and 11 were injured.
In 2001, a tugboat and barge struck the Queen Isabella Causeway in Port Isabel, Texas, causing a section of the bridge to tumble 80 feet (24 meters) into the bay below. Eight people were killed.
In 1993, barges being pushed by a towboat in dense fog hit and displaced the Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama. Minutes later, an Amtrak train with 220 people on board reached the displaced bridge and derailed, killing 47 people and injuring 103 others.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Money. Power. Women. The driving forces behind fantasy football's skyrocketing popularity.
- Are you playing 'Whamageddon'? It's the Christmas game you've probably already lost
- Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Pack on the PDA During Intimate NYC Moment
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Raiders vs. Chargers Thursday Night Football highlights: Las Vegas sets franchise record for points
- New York’s Metropolitan Museum will return stolen ancient sculptures to Cambodia and Thailand
- A Mississippi House candidate is charged after a Satanic Temple display is destroyed at Iowa Capitol
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- This organization fulfills holiday wish lists for kids in foster care – and keeps sending them gifts when they age out of the system
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- 2024 Ford Mustang GT California Special: A first look at an updated classic with retro appeal
- Ben Napier still courts wife Erin: 'I wake up and I want her to fall in love with me'
- Q&A: The Sort of ‘Breakthrough’ Moment Came in Dubai When the Nations of the World Agreed to Transition Away From Fossil Fuels
- Average rate on 30
- Matthew Perry’s Cause of Death Revealed
- Louisiana shrimp season to close Monday in parts of state waters
- A Kentucky family gets an early gift: a baby owl in their Christmas tree
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
US-China relations are defined by rivalry but must include engagement, American ambassador says
North Carolina high court says a gun-related crime can happen in any public space, not just highway
Pope Francis calls for global treaty to regulate artificial intelligence: We risk falling into the spiral of a technological dictatorship
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Dramatic life change for Tourette syndrome teen after deep brain stimulator implanted
Matthew Perry Was Reportedly Clean for 19 Months Before His Death
Michigan State reaches settlements with families of students slain in mass shooting