Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Ship Collision, Mass Casualties Feared
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore after a container ship collided with it. According to media reports, the vessel struck the bridge around 1:30 am on Tuesday, igniting a fire before sinking. Authorities have labeled the incident as a developing mass casualty event.
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Livestream Footage Reveals Moment of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Amid Ship Collision
A livestream captured the ship turning before colliding with one of the bridge's two central pylons at 1:28 a.m. According to the timestamp, within roughly 20 seconds, the entire stretch visible in the video collapsed into the water, with some parts falling onto the ship's bow. The camera recording the livestream belongs to Bay Area Mechanical Services, as stated by the StreamTime Live YouTube channel hosting the footage.
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Baltimore Fire Department Mobilizes Dive and Rescue Team in Response to Bridge Collapse Emergency
Kevin Cartwright, Baltimore City Fire Department's communications chief, characterized the event as an evolving mass casualty incident, stating, "The dive and rescue team has arrived on scene to locate the individuals."
He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that emergency services are actively engaged in efforts to rescue and recover those who may have fallen into the water, stressing, "This is a dire emergency."
Maryland Governor Declares Emergency, Mobilizes Federal Aid for Bridge Collapse
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency on Tuesday morning, as confirmed by his press secretary. Mr. Moore stated, "We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration," and noted ongoing communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
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Officials React to Baltimore Bridge Collapse Tragedy; Press Conference Scheduled for Updates
The Maryland Transportation Authority has scheduled a press conference for 7 a.m.
“This is a tragedy that you can never imagine,” expressed Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Describing the collapse as resembling scenes from an action movie, he urged the public to remain focused on the ongoing rescue operations and support the families of those missing.