A container ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, early Tuesday, causing it to snap and plunge into the river below. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were searching survivors.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the operators of the ship issued a mayday call moments before the crash that took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic from entering the span.
"We're thankful that between the mayday and collapse that we had officials who were able to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," Moore said, adding that the warning likely saved lives.
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Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said at least eight people were on the Key Bridge at the time of its collapse. Two people were pulled from the waters under the bridge, one in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace. Wiedefeld said the search is continuing for the other six who were working on the bridge repairing masonry and potholes at the time.
Earlier Tuesday, officials said sonar indicated that there are vehicles in the water, where the temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Authorities said a crew was working on the bridge at the time and it was not immediately clear if the cars detected in the water belonged to the workers, who typically park on the bridge during their shifts.
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As continues to unfold, here's what we know so far:
Why did the ship hit the bridge?
It was not immediately clear what caused the cargo ship to crash into the bridge long before the busy morning commute in what one official called a “developing mass casualty event” in a major American city just outside of Washington.
The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.
“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”
Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the Dali — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. It said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, according to the website.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel, which was carrying its customers’ cargo. No Maersk crew and personnel were on board. The collapse caused Maersk share at the Nasdaq Copenhagen to plummet 2% in early Tuesday trading.
Where rescue efforts stand
Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed. The FBI was also on the scene. There was “no credible evidence” that terrorism was involved, the governor said.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event,” though he didn’t know at the time how many people were affected.
Two people were rescued from the waters under the bridge, one in serious condition, according to Wallace. He said authorities “may be looking for upwards of seven people” but said that number could change. It was not clear if the two rescued were included in the seven.
Sonar has indicated that there are vehicles in the water, where the temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
What witnesses say happened
A group of people who gathered nearby told NBC News that their family members were working on the bridge at the time of the collapse. One woman, who was not identified, said her father-in-law. Miguel Luna, was among the workers. She and others were awaiting official information on the status of their loved ones.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said at a news conference: "We have to first and foremost pray for all of those who are impacted, those families, and pray for our first responders and thank them, all of them, [for] working together — city, state, local — to make sure that we are working through this tragedy."
Bobby Haines, who lives nearby the bridge in Dundalk, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house.
"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook and I was freaking out," Haines said in an interview with NBC News. "I thought it was an earthquake and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."
What is the Francis Scott Key Bridge?
According to officials, the bridge, over the Patapsco River, is a vital artery that sees more than 30,000 cars a day. Along with the Port of Baltimore, it is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
