BALTIMORE: Search Resumes for Six Missing Individuals After Collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge
The hunt continued on Wednesday morning for six individuals who are missing and presumed deceased following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The bridge gave way early on Tuesday when a support column was struck by a large container ship that had lost power, resulting in people and vehicles plunging into the Patapsco River.
Search and rescue operations were halted at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday as authorities shifted their focus to recovery endeavors.
"Considering the duration of the search, the extensive search operations conducted, and the water temperature - we currently do not anticipate locating any of these individuals alive," expressed Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath during a press briefing on Tuesday evening.
Two Workers Safely Rescued, Six Individuals Still Unaccounted For
Following the collapse on Tuesday, two individuals were rescued from the water. One of the rescued workers emerged unscathed, while the other was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center for treatment and has since been released.
All eight individuals were part of a construction crew assigned to repair potholes on the bridge at the time of the incident, as per Gilreath's statement.
Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Security Board, said Tuesday afternoon that a local company, Brawner Builders, employed the workers.
Perilous search conditions
The Coast Guard is leading the recovery mission at the Key Bridge site.
Col. Roland Butler Jr., with Maryland State Police, said conditions in the water, including changing currents, low visibility and sharp metal objects, made it dangerous for divers and first responders.
Divers would begin recovery operations at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Butler Jr. said, adding that the victims' exact locations were unknown.
Maryland Democratic Rep. David Trone told CBS News recovery efforts will likely be conducted with underwater drones. He said the drones will be able to locate submerged vehicles and that authorities have identified one in particular that likely has casualties.
Who are the victims?
All six victims were working on the bridge filling potholes at the time of the collapse. One of the victims has been identified by a nonprofit organization, and three South American nations indicated missing citizens but stopped short of identifying them as victims.
The nonprofit organization CASA identified one of the missing workers as Miguel Luna, a man from El Salvador who was a father of three.
Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that two of the missing workers hailed from Guatemala. One was 26 years old, and the other was 35 years old, as stated by the ministry.
Honduras' Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio García informed The Associated Press that a Honduran citizen was also among the missing individuals, while the Mexican Embassy in Washington confirmed the presence of Mexicans among the six workers as well.
Ship Encounter Power Issue Before Collision
After investigation, it was established that the ship encountered a power loss right before the collision. Governor Wes Moore mentioned that the crew reported a "power issue" to the authorities.
According to two U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News, multiple alarms went off on the ship, alerting the pilots and crew about an onboard issue. The crew conducted various system tests in an attempt to address the loss of propulsion from the motor, but unfortunately, the tests were unsuccessful. Subsequently, the pilot contacted the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority.
Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski mentioned that roughly two minutes passed between the ship's pilot notifying state authorities of the issue onboard and the collapse of the bridge.
Mayday Call Prevented Further Casualties
During a news conference, officials highlighted that the mayday call enabled them to issue an alert and halt traffic onto the bridge, potentially saving lives.
Moore emphasized that halting traffic onto the bridge was crucial in "saving lives during the recent incident." The mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, shared with CBS News that the distress call played a pivotal role in "preserving numerous lives" and enabling swift response from emergency teams.
Authorities refrained from specifying the number of vehicles present on the bridge when it collapsed. Infrared footage displayed vehicles submerging into the water, although it remains uncertain if there were occupants in those vehicles. Several vehicles were still visible in the river by Wednesday.
Homendy mentioned that it was premature to outline a precise sequence of events leading to the mishap as the investigation was still ongoing.
Reports indicated that the ship's crew endeavored to deploy the anchor, but the extent of their progress remained ambiguous as per multiple officials on Tuesday.
"In case of a loss of steering and power, the vessel essentially becomes non-operational and is at the mercy of the current or its own inertia," highlighted James Mercante, the president of the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners, in an interview with CBS News.
Observations from video footage revealed a significant release of dark black smoke, suggesting a potential restoration of the vessel's power at the final moment. This could indicate an emergency maneuver by the pilot to avert a collision. Nonetheless, controlling a 900-foot-long vessel would pose considerable challenges.
"The ship's immense power and momentum would require the length of five to six football fields to come to a stop, even after dropping the anchors. It's truly a behemoth," Mercante remarked.
Discover the Location of the Francis Scott Key Bridge
The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans across the Patapsco River, a crucial waterway that, along with the Port of Baltimore, serves as a central point for East Coast shipping.
This bridge stands as the outermost of three toll crossings of Baltimore's Harbor and serves as the final connection in Interstate 695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, which links Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Constructed in 1977, the bridge was a response to the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel reaching its capacity and facing severe congestion on a daily basis, as reported by the MDTA.
With a length of 1.6 miles, the bridge was utilized by approximately 31,000 individuals each day and accommodated 11.5 million vehicles annually.
