Following a cargo ship collision, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans outer Baltimore Harbor in Maryland, catastrophically collapsed. Viral videos that showed the turmoil and destruction caused by the tragedy swiftly went viral on social media as they captured the moment of the collapse.
Mass Casualty Event
As soon as emergency personnel arrived at the site of the collapse, they discovered a “mass casualty multi-agency incident.” In the aftermath of the collapse, at least twenty people were said to have fallen into the icy Patapsco River. However, dangerous circumstances like objects dangling from the broken structure, little visibility, and frigid temperatures made rescue efforts more difficult.
Quick Rescue Deployment
The water was about 48°F (9°C), thus rescue efforts turned into a race against the clock. Even at this seemingly mild temperature, cold water depletes body heat far more quickly than cold air, which puts anyone submerged at serious danger. Underwater divers stressed the urgency of the situation by diving into the water right away to begin search and rescue operations.
Cargo ship collision
The cargo ship flying the Singapore flag was found to be the cause of the collision. The ship’s owners verified the incident, albeit the cause of the accident is still unknown. Thankfully, a New York Times story stated that every crew member on board the ship was declared safe.
Following the collapse, local authorities moved quickly to reduce the commotion in the region by installing traffic diversions. In order to handle the fallout from the incident, the Maryland Transportation Authority issued closures of lanes and diversions on Interstate-695, popularly known as the Baltimore Beltway. The public was reassured by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott that emergency services were actively addressing the situation on the spot.
Francis Scott Bridge’s Ongoing Research
Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing while the community deals with the consequences of the collapse of the bridge. In an effort to avert future tragedies of a similar nature, authorities are investigating the series of events that culminated in the collision and resulting collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
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