Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on response

The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Riley Hoffman, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: April 1, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

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Mar 27, 7:05 pm

What to know about the collapse

The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.

A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the bridge collapsed, Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.

Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Mar 28, 2024, 12:49 PM EDT

State will do a full evaluation of all critical bridges in Maryland, governor says

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters that the state will do a "true full evaluation" of all fracture-critical bridges in Maryland in the wake of the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

A NTSB investigator is seen on the cargo vessel Dali on March 27, 2024 which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Peter Knudson/NTSB via AP

During a media availability on MLB opening day announcing the new ownership of the Baltimore Orioles, Moore asked for local leaders to help rebuild.

"I'm calling on everybody to do their part. In this game, nobody gets to sit on the sidelines. We need every single Baltimorean and we need every single Marylander to join us in this work to rebuild this bridge and rebuild the city," Moore said. "And that work is happening as we speak. The best minds in the world are coming together to collect the information that we need to move forward with speed and safety."

Once the bridge is rebuilt, Moore said, "We're going to have another reopening day -- and that will be the reopening of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. And you can bet on that."

PHOTO: Maryland Governor Wes Moore (L) stands with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott along the shore of the Patapsco River after a cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing its collapse in Baltimore, Mar. 26 2024.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (L) stands with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott along the shore of the Patapsco River after a cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing its collapse in Baltimore, Mar. 26, 2024, in a picture released by the Governor's press secretary on X.
Carter Elliott IV/X

-ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson

Mar 28, 2024, 11:20 AM EDT

White House task force meets to discuss federal response to collapse

The White House's Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force held a meeting Wednesday and discussed how federal efforts can help the industries and workers impacted by the bridge collapse, according to the White House.

People look at the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge while visiting Fort McHenry in Baltimore, March 27, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

"Members of the Task Force shared real-time analysis of sectors with significant activity through the Port of Baltimore, including automobiles, farm machinery, and agricultural products," a White House statement said. “Members of the Task Force also provided an assessment of the impact on workers and the community."

"The Task Force will coordinate Federal outreach and efforts to assist impacted industries and will continue to monitor shipping activity at alternative ports as shipments are diverted," the readout said.

The cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Md.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The task force was created in 2021 to respond to pandemic-era supply chain disruptions.

-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart

Mar 28, 2024, 9:38 AM EDT

Collapse could cost as much as $4 billion

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge could cost as much as $4 billion, which would make the incident a record shipping insurance loss, according to a Morningstar analysis citied in a new Department of Homeland Security assessment obtained by ABC News.

The onramp to the Francis Scott Key Bridge is closed on March 27, 2024 after it collapsed Tuesday when the cargo ship Dali crashed into it in Baltimore.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

There are currently seven vessels at anchor awaiting to enter the Port of Baltimore, the document said. Two have been directed to other ports.

Dive operations on Thursday will confirm the ship’s stability and structural integrity so crews can begin to offload the 13 damaged containers, the document said.

NTSB investigators are seen on the cargo vessel Dali on March 27, 2024 which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Peter Knudson/NTSB via Reuters

The bulk of the hazardous material is located on the stern. Of the ship's 4,700 containers, 56 hold dangerous goods, but there is no threat to the public, the assessment said.

Two containers went overboard during the collision, but they did not contain hazardous materials, the document said.

-ABC News’ Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky

Mar 28, 2024, 6:32 AM EDT

Survivor saved by first responder's warning just before bridge fell, Gov. Moore says

One of the people on the bridge just before the collapse heard the voice of a first responder calling out for him to move off quickly, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.

"The first responders, who, again, really moved heroically, after the first mayday was called, were able to move to both keep additional cars from coming on the bridge and to begin to notify the workers and people on the bridge they need to move off the bridge," Moore said during a press briefing Wednesday.

The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, March 27, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

"One of the survivors who I had the opportunity to speak with, one of the things he mentioned to me was as he was moving off of the bridge -- and literally saw the bridge fall right after he moved off -- it was because it was a first responder who was telling him to move off the bridge," Moore said.

That life-saving notification was made "audibly," although other contact between first responders and workers may have been made by cellphone or radio, Moore said.