Sri Lanka-Bound Cargo Ship Causes Major Bridge Collapse in Baltimore

A major tragedy struck Baltimore this morning as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a container ship, the Dali. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 am EDT, has resulted in a large-scale rescue operation with authorities searching for survivors.

20 People Missing, Rescue Efforts Ongoing

Reports indicate that at least 20 people are currently missing, with approximately 10 vehicles and 7 construction workers believed to have been on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Emergency responders are on the scene and actively engaged in rescue efforts.

Details of the Ship

The ship is a 948-foot-long cargo vessel named Dali. The owners of the vessel, a Singapore-flagged ship, said it hit a pillar of the bridge around 1:30 a.m. All crew members, including two pilots onboard, have been accounted for and there were no injuries on the ship, the owners said. According to VesselFinder, the ship tracking website, the Dali was on its way to Sri Lanka when the collision occurred. The ship had just begun its 27-day journey and was expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 22, 2024.

State of Emergency Declared

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) declared a state of emergency early Tuesday to facilitate rescue efforts and expedite the allocation of resources. His office is in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary.

Cause of Collision Under Investigation

Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision between the Dali and the bridge. In several angles of CCTV footage from this morning's collapse, the Dali can be seen suffering a total loss of power at least twice before the crash. Investigators will need to determine if this power loss played a role in the incident.