Rescue efforts are concentrated on locating six individuals presumed dead as of Wednesday morning following the collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge on Tuesday. Authorities have confirmed the recovery of the ship’s black box recorder.
A team from the highway department will investigate the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge to ascertain the circumstances leading to the collision between a container ship and a pillar of the 1.6-mile span in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized the importance of prioritizing the recovery of the victims during a press conference, affirming that every available resource, including air, land, and water assets, will be dedicated to the effort. He reassured the families of the victims of his commitment to ensuring closure for them.
Reports indicate that the six individuals believed to have perished in the Baltimore bridge collapse on Tuesday were all construction workers from Latin American countries, including Miguel Luna, a father of three from El Salvador.
While two construction workers were rescued from the water on Tuesday, with one hospitalized, the remaining six individuals presumed dead hailed from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador, according to the Mexican Consulate in Washington.
Officials revealed that the eight individuals were part of a work crew engaged in repairing potholes on the road surface when the Singapore-flagged container vessel Dali collided with a support pylon while departing from Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka.
A portion of the bridge collapsed almost immediately, causing vehicles and workers to plunge into the river. Despite the U.S. Coast Guard’s ongoing search efforts 18 hours after the incident, the challenging conditions, including frigid waters and limited visibility, pose significant obstacles to recovery.
Governor Wes Moore described the daunting task faced by rescue teams navigating the treacherous waters amidst mangled metal debris, where individuals are presumed to have lost their lives.
The container ship, measuring 948 feet (289 meters) in length, had reported a loss of propulsion shortly before the collision and deployed its anchor to reduce speed, allowing authorities to halt traffic on the bridge prior to the crash. This proactive measure likely prevented a higher casualty count, as noted by authorities.
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