A key bridge in the U.S city of Baltimore has collapsed after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged Dali container ship.
BBC reported that the ship travelled towards the Francis Scott Key Bridge, after departed from the terminal at Port Breeze at around 12.45am ET (4.45am GMT), and became stationary at the site of the bridge 45 minutes later.
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The vessel collided with the bridge at around 01.30 local time (05.30 GMT), causing the full length of the structure to give way and plunge into the water.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge is an enormous steel structure which carries the Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area.
The Baltimore City Fire Department communications chief says as many as 20 workers and several vehicles are believed to have fallen into the Patapsco River following the collapse.
A large tractor-trailer was on the Bridge when it collapsed, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. The department says there was lots of diesel fuel in the water around the ship that struck the bridge.
It adds that “the dive and rescue team has arrived on scene to locate the individuals” in the water – its last update said up to 20 workers were believed to have fallen into the river.
A number of casualties have been reported and there is now a large multi-agency rescue and recovery operation under way
Shipping company Synergy Marine Group confirms that its Singapore-flagged container ship ‘Dali’ has collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
“Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘Dali’ has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service,” it says.
All crew members, including the two pilots who were aboard, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries, it adds.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
