On March 26, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland collapsed after being struck by the container ship Dali, forcing the main spans to fall. It is reported that a cargo ship sailing from Port Baltimore lost power and propulsion, colliding with the bridge. When the cargo ship lost power after leaving the Port of Baltimore, it issued a Mayday call. The crew issued a distress signal, requesting assistance.
Officials stopped traffic at both ends of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in an attempt to evacuate people following the distress signal. Several federal and Maryland officials confirmed that the crew had informed Harbor Control of their loss of power and propulsion.
Emergency officials had a short time to evacuate the bridge before it collapsed into the river. Eight people reportedly fell into the water during the collapse, said Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland’s transportation secretary. All eight are construction workers who were filling potholes. Sadly, six workers are still missing, while two were rescued safely. Divers, boats, and helicopters are on a mission to search for them.
The White House response
President Biden gave a speech at the White House discussing the bridge collapse incident. He mentioned that the Coast Guard was leading the response efforts. Mentioning that the Coast Guard was leading the response means, alongside officials from Baltimore and Maryland. Biden also stated that a recovery operation was still underway. Additionally, they state that all indications point towards the event being a “terrible accident.”
President Biden announced that the federal government would fund the reconstruction of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. He also says that he hopes the bridge will be rebuilt “as soon as humanly possible.”
Several shipping lines that usually use Baltimore are turning their vessels to other ports along the East Coast. According to Stephen Edwards, CEO of the Port of Virginia, the ports between New York and Virginia can handle all the cargo, specifically container ships.
Past bridge collapse incidents
In just over a month, there have been two incidents where a container ship collided with a major road bridge. On February 22, a cargo ship crashed into a portion of the Pearl River Bridge over China’s Guangzhou. The accident resulted in three people getting injured and five casualties. The incident also led to four cars and an electric motorcycle sliding off the bridge. City officials reported that the deceased included the driver of an empty bus, a motorcycle rider, and three individuals who were in trucks that fell into the river.
In light of this incident, concerns about the safety standards of larger cargo and the ability of bridges to withstand crashes are looming.
President Biden’s promise to quickly assist in the rebuilding of the Baltimore Bridge is a huge relief for the people of Baltimore. His assurance of swift aid means that commuters will soon be able to travel smoothly and safely across the bridge. It is heartening to know that leaders are committed to ensuring the well-being of their citizens. Above all, our prayers are with the six missing construction workers.
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