Collapse of Baltimore Bridge in the US... Vehicle Falls, Over 20 Missing Presumed

Collision with Large Cargo Ship in Singapore
Fire Authorities Declare 'Multiple Casualty Incident'
Focus on Search and Rescue Operations

On the 26th (local time), a harbor bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, collapsed after being struck by a large cargo ship, according to AP News and others.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that in the early morning, a Singapore-flagged vessel collided with a pier of the 'Francis Scott Key Bridge,' which spans Baltimore Harbor. The Coast Guard stated that reports of a container ship striking the bridge began coming in around 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and the collision caused part of the bridge to collapse.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

AP News reported that the ship that collided with the pier caught fire and sank, and as the bridge collapsed, several vehicles crossing it fell into the river. On social media, videos were posted showing the ship on fire after hitting the pier and the central part of the bridge suddenly collapsing as if it were sinking. The exact extent of the damage is not yet known, but the Baltimore Fire Department has classified the incident as a major casualty event.

Fire authorities said up to 20 people are missing after falling into the water, and rescue teams are conducting search operations. Kevin Cartwright, Public Information Officer of the Baltimore Fire Department, said the vessel was departing Baltimore Harbor at the time of the collision, and there were several vehicles, including large tractor-trailers, on the bridge during the incident.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Commonly called the 'Key Bridge,' this bridge is approximately 2.6 km long and crosses the outer part of Baltimore Harbor at the mouth of the Patapsco River. It opened in 1977 and is part of Highway 695.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.