Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on bridge response
The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.
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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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 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.
Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," Moore said in a statement.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also declared a local state of emergency.
The history of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge
The 1.6-mile bridge on the I-695 beltway crosses the Patapsco River, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words of the U.S. national anthem in 1814, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Key, after whom the bridge was named, was also an advisor to Andrew Jackson, served as the District Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1833 to 1841, and was a slave owner, according to the National Park Service.
Construction on the bridge, which was intended to ease traffic and maintenance concerns regarding the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that serviced the waterway, began in 1972 and finished in March 1977, according to the MDTA.
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1 person hospitalized in very serious condition
Two people have been rescued from the water and crews are still searching for others, fire officials said.
One person rescued has been taken to a hospital in very serious condition, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.
The second rescued person denied medical treatment.
'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.
The Coast Guard is "actively involved in search and rescue operations," he said.
10 other ships stuck in Port of Baltimore
Ten ships -- not including the Dali -- are stuck inside the Port of Baltimore, according to a new update by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
They are comprised of: three bulk carriers, one vehicle carrier, three logistics naval vessels, two general cargo ships and one oil chemical tanker.
An additional vehicle carrier is in the port but outside the site of the bridge collapse.
This list does not include additional tugboats, sailboats and private yachts that are also in a holding pattern as the Port of Baltimore remains closed.
The port said Tuesday vessel traffic in and out is "suspended until further notice."
-Noah Minnie and Elizabeth Schulze