BALTIMORE -- The search for bodies was paused Wednesday as attention turned to clearing debris from the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and reopening the Port of Baltimore.
The bodies of two construction workers were recovered from a submerged truck Wednesday. Four people remain missing and are presumed dead, but divers can no longer operate around the mangled bridge debris that has encased submerged vehicles, officials said.
The span was hit by a cargo ship that had experienced power failure shortly after it departed from the Port of Baltimore early Tuesday morning.
The U.S. Navy announced it is mobilizing barges equipped with heavy lift cranes to assist in clearing the Patapsco River of debris. Three cranes with different lift capacities and support vessels are expected to start removing submerged sections of the bridge, although the exact arrival time is unknown.
Reopening channel 'essential' for port
All vessel traffic to and from the port was halted following the collapse, but truck traffic has been allowed to continue.
The Army Corps of Engineers will provide assistance in the salvage operation to facilitate the reopening of the Patapsco River's shipping lanes, the entrance to the port.
The port is the ninth busiest in the United States, according to Census data, and handled more than $80 billion in import-exports last year, the most in 20 years. It is also home to Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines.
Directly, the port supports 15,300 jobs, while another 140,000 in the area are related to port activities. The jobs provide a combined $3.3 billion in personal income, according to a CBS News report.
"The most urgent priority is to open the Port of Baltimore because it is essential to the livelihood of people here in Baltimore, in Maryland, and the economies across our country and around the world," U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a press conference Wednesday.
Maryland lawmakers are drafting emergency legislation for income replacement to assist thousands of Port of Baltimore workers impacted by the disruption.
Four remain missing, presumed dead
Eight people, part of a construction crew filling potholes, were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Two were rescued, two bodies have been recovered, and four remain missing.
So far, three of the victims have been identified:
- Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 35, originally from Honduras and who has been living in the U.S. for 20 years
- Miguel Luna, originally from El Salvador
- Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, 26, originally from Guatemala
The Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed two of the missing men were from Guatemala, according to a Tuesday evening news release.
Honduras' Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio García told The Associated Press a Honduran citizen was missing, and the Mexican Embassy in Washington said there were Mexicans among the six as well.
The men are in their 30s and 40s and have spouses and children in Dundalk and Highlandtown.
Employer vows to help families
Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Hunt Valley-based general contractor Brawner Builders, told CBS MoneyWatch the workers had company-sponsored life insurance, but declined to disclose details regarding the policies.
Brawner intends to offer financial assistance to the missing workers' families as they cope with the sudden loss of income, Pritzker said, without providing additional details on the company's plans.
"The company is doing everything possible to support the families and to counsel the families and to be with the families," Brawner Builders executive vice president Jeffrey Pritzker said.
Separately, a GoFundMe campaign is aiming to raise $60,000 to help their survivors. Organized by the Latino Racial Justice Circle, an advocacy group that fights racial injustice, it raised more than $98,000 as of Thursday morning. Brawner Builders is linking to the GoFundMe on its website, directing people who wish to support the families to the fundraising effort.
Tragedy Strikes in a Matter of Minutes
According to reports from the authorities, disaster struck when the Dali, a prominent ship, departed from the Port of Baltimore terminal at approximately 12:39 a.m. on a Tuesday.
Within less than an hour, at 1:24 a.m., alarms began blaring, indicating a critical issue. The situation escalated rapidly, and by 1:27 a.m., the ship's pilot instructed the crew to drop the anchor and urgently called for tugboats as the vessel had lost power and was drifting dangerously towards a bridge.
Just two minutes later, at 1:29 a.m., the massive cargo ship collided with the bridge at a speed of 8 mph.
Authorities revealed that the police had a mere 90 seconds from the moment distress signals were received to secure the bridge and evacuate any individuals in harm's way.
Amidst the chaos, a vigilant police officer who was patrolling the area due to ongoing construction efforts made valiant efforts to clear the bridge of workers, potentially preventing further casualties.
The ship was transporting 56 containers loaded with corrosive, flammable substances and batteries, some of which were compromised during the collision, as stated by NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy. Of particular concern was the leakage of a hazardous material called sheen, commonly used in paint, into the Patapsco River. The full extent of the environmental impact is yet to be determined.
Rebuilding a Vital Link
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning the Patapsco River, serves as a crucial connection point in Baltimore's Harbor, marking the terminus of Interstate 695 that facilitates travel between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile span completed in 1977, was a vital link for over 31,000 daily commuters and 11.5 million vehicles annually. However, due to the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel's congestion, the bridge had reached its capacity, leading to heavy traffic.
Maryland has requested emergency relief funds from the federal government to rebuild the Key Bridge and reopen the port, as stated by Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Weidefeld. The goal is to secure federal funding promptly and initiate the design process for the replacement bridge to restore connectivity to the community.
President Biden has committed to advocating for federal funding to cover the entire cost of the new bridge. He has also pledged to collaborate with Maryland officials to offer maximum support for this critical infrastructure project.
Senator Van Hollen emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging Congress to swiftly allocate resources for the bridge's reconstruction. He emphasized the importance of unity in addressing this national challenge and rebuilding the Key Bridge to restore Baltimore's connectivity.
