As of: March 27, 2024, 7:18 p.m
By: Romina Kunze, Kilian Bäuml, Moritz Bletzinger
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After the bridge collapsed in Baltimore, emergency services stopped the search.
There are dead people.
An expert does not rule out further accidents.
The live ticker.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: ship hits pillars, cars fall into the water.
Major diving operation started: At least six people found dead.
Shipping company comments on accident: Cause of ship collision still unclear.
Update from March 27th, 12:55 p.m.:
What led to six people losing their lives?
After the devastating collision of a cargo ship with a steel bridge in Baltimore, many questions remain unanswered, but the search for the missing construction workers has been discontinued.
It is unlikely that they will still be found alive in the cool water temperatures.
However, the incident also raises other questions - for example about the general safety of bridges in the USA.
The collapsed bridge in Baltimore was built in the 1970s, long before there were guidelines for collisions, engineer and structural engineer Matthew Roblez told
CNN
.
The "Dali" hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge "in exactly the 'right' place," which is why the container ship caused the bridge to collapse.
“It makes me think about how many other bridges out there are vulnerable,” Roblez said.
Bridges are usually equipped with so-called fenders to protect the supports.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge did not have such a provision.
Rescuers undertake “rescue operation” at Baltimore bridge – governor reports small “miracle”
Update from March 27th, 8:56 a.m.:
After the bridge collapsed in Baltimore, it is now assumed that six people are dead.
“We are transitioning from a search and rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said Roland Butler of the Maryland Police Department.
The temperatures and currents made it difficult for the divers to continue their work underwater.
However, boats should continue patrolling overnight.
The six people were construction workers who were repairing potholes on the bridge.
Two other workers from the eight-person construction crew were rescued, one of them with serious injuries.
By acting quickly, it was possible to prevent additional cars from driving on the bridge.
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, praised the authorities' efforts after the ship's distress call was received.
“These people are heroes.
They saved lives last night,” Moore said.
There were deaths in the Baltimore Bridge drama.
But Governor Wes Moore also reports a mini-miracle.
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The exact causes of the collapse of the bridge, after the ship rammed the pillar, have not yet been finally clarified.
However, a terrorist attack like in Moscow is unlikely.
The US Federal Police FBI and other authorities said there was no known connection to terrorism.
“The preliminary investigation indicates an accident,” said Governor Moore.
There were no signs that the bridge structure was defective.
“The bridge was fully compliant,” the Democrat continued.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: Six dead - search for people stopped
Update from March 27th, 5:45 a.m.:
After the collapse of a large car bridge in the US state of Maryland, the authorities assume that six people are missing.
The US Coast Guard announced on Tuesday evening (local time) that the active search for survivors would be discontinued.
Given the water temperature, it is no longer expected that anyone will be found alive after so many hours.
A Coast Guard representative said they did not want to risk the health of rescue workers because of the dangerous currents and debris in the water.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: Body recovered from water - new details come to light
Update from March 26th, 10:45 p.m.:
More and more eyewitness reports are becoming public after the bridge collapse in Baltimore.
According to CNN
, Maryland Governor Wes Moore spoke
to a worker who was able to escape from the collapsing bridge in time.
Accordingly, he saw the ship approaching the Francis Scott Key Bridge before the collision, before the accident that is keeping the USA in suspense occurred.
There were said to be eight construction workers on the bridge at this time.
Six of them are missing, two were rescued.
“There were only seconds between the emergency call and the actual collapse of the bridge,” Moore told the US broadcaster.
The fact that the person survived is “a miracle, considering what happened.” The sight of large ships like the “Dali” is not unusual for the workers.
They saw ships coming and going every night, the governor said.
But it drove towards the structure at a considerable speed, which made the disaster worse.
Bridge collapse in the USA: body recovered in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 9:13 p.m.:
During the search for missing people as a result of the bridge accident in Baltimore, a body was recovered from the water.
This is reported
by CNN,
citing Phylicia Porter, member of the Baltimore City Council.
Six people are still missing.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: audio recordings before the accident surfaced
Update from March 26, 7:06 p.m.:
As
CNN
reported, there are audio recordings that captured the moment shortly before the Baltimore Bridge collapsed.
“I need one of you on the south side, one of you on the north side, hold up all traffic on the Key Bridge,” one person reportedly said over the radio.
“A ship is approaching that has just lost control.” Just 90 seconds later, the bridge is said to have collapsed.
The radio message was probably made in response to the emergency call from the container ship, which was made by the freighter shortly beforehand.
Shocking images from Baltimore: A freighter rammed the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
This then collapsed.
© Tasos Katopodis/AFP
There is currently no evidence that the collapse of the Baltimore Bridge was deliberate, US President Joe Biden said at a press conference in Washington.
He also announced extensive financial support.
“I intend for the federal government to cover the entire cost of rebuilding this bridge,” the Democrat said.
However, the approval of the members of Congress is still necessary for this.
A visit by the President to the scene of the accident is also planned.
Biden reacts to bridge collapse in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 5:43 p.m.:
The incumbent US President Joe Biden now commented on the bridge accident in Baltimore on X (formerly Twitter).
He spoke of a “terrible incident”.
Biden called a briefing on Tuesday morning.
He wants to ensure that “all federal resources are available to support the search and rescue efforts” of the emergency services.
“The added pressure from the port and the economic costs make it even more urgent for the people of Maryland and the White House to act quickly,” Andy Winkler, disaster expert at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told
CNN
.
The port in Baltimore is considered an important transport hub in the region.
The disaster could be clearly heard from the shore.
“It shook my house,” one resident told the
BBC
.
“It scared me to death.” Another resident said of the missing people: “I hope they can find these people.”
Cars spotted in Patapsco River after bridge collapse in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 3:53 p.m.:
The authorities are now releasing precise information on sunken vehicles for the first time.
Fire Chief James Wallace tells
CNN
: Three cars, a cement truck and a fifth, unrecognized vehicle were spotted in the Patapsco River using sonar.
Eight diving teams are currently in the water.
Why did the search and rescue operation get off to such a slow start?
“It's because of the dynamics of an accident like this,” says Wallace, “operating in constant uncertainty makes things very difficult.
If there is still darkness, it becomes dangerous.” The accident at the Key Bridge occurred in the middle of the night (1:30 a.m. local time).
Several hours passed before sunrise.
Live PK on bridge collapse: Maryland governor and FBI agent speak
Update from March 26th, 3:09 p.m.:
"These people are heroes," says Moore about the freighter's employees and others who prevented more cars from driving onto the bridge after the warning from the "Dali".
With this, the governor confirms the CISA report that the freighter had engine problems before the collision and sent an emergency call.
The emergency call from the container ship gave the emergency services valuable time to stop the traffic for more cars.
Shortly afterwards the ship crashed into the bridge.
“I'm grateful for the people who literally stopped cars from driving over the bridge after the warning and the emergency call,” Moore explains.
“You saved lives last night.”
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: Authorities speak of eight victims after shipwreck in the USA
Update from March 26th, 3:08 p.m.:
The authorities are specifically talking about a total of eight victims.
Two of them have already been rescued, one man is in hospital and six others are missing.
Update from March 26th, 3:06 p.m.:
“It was shocking and heartbreaking,” says Moore about the moment he found out about the accident.
The Key Bridge is a landmark for the citizens of the city of Baltimore.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore avoidable?
Governor speaks out
Update from March 26th, 3:05 p.m.:
Was the collapse of the Key Bridge after the collision avoidable?
Governor Moore refers to the ongoing investigation, but emphasizes that the bridge was structurally in perfect condition.
Update from March 26th, April 15th:
The coast guard is involved in the search with three ships, including two sonar boats.
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: FBI comments on missing people after ship wreck in the USA
Update from March 26th, 3 p.m.:
The workers who were on the bridge repaired potholes.
One of them is the person who is in the hospital in serious condition.
An FBI spokesman expressed condolences to the families of the missing.
The secret service is investigating the incident and has found no evidence of terrorist connections.
Within an hour of the accident, agents were on the scene, he points out.
All possible special forces have been activated for first aid, including FBI divers who are searching for the missing people.
Investigations into the bridge collapse in Baltimore are ongoing
Update from March 26, 2:55 p.m.:
“We are still investigating what happened, but we are making rapid progress,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore at another press conference.
Everything points to an accident.
He thanks all the “courageous helpers” who are trying to rescue the missing people from the water.
“Our state has been in shock since today.
We will pray for Baltimore and get through this difficult time.”
Bridge collapsed in Baltimore: Human error probably caused the ship collision in the USA
Update from March 26th, 2:52 p.m.:
Highly unlikely that human error was behind the accident.
An absolute expert was at the helm of the “Dali”, as US media reports.
The local captain's only job is to bring freighters from the port safely to the sea, he is a local professional.
Another pilot then takes over in the open water, which is common practice.
Bridge accident in the USA: Diving operation after bridge collapse begins at sunrise
Update from March 26th, 2:13 p.m.:
Good news afterwards.
“With the sunrise we can finally begin the diving operation,” says state politician Johnny Olszewski on
CNN
.
This was previously not possible in the dark.
But: “The circumstances are difficult,” adds Olszewski, “we are talking about a deep channel.
The water is 40, 50 feet (about 15 meters) deep and the currents are strong.
The weather is windy, the water is cold.
And so of course we worry about those who are in the water.
For all of us in the greater Baltimore area, it feels like a nightmare.”
Update from March 26th, 1:57 p.m.:
Bad news again for the rescue operation in the Patapsco River.
The flood is coming.
The rescue teams are already working under enormous time pressure in the nine-degree cold water, and the onset of tides doesn't make their mission any easier.
Bridge accident in the USA: Secret service publishes report on the cause of the ship collision in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 1:40 p.m.:
As
ABC News
reports from a report by the US secret service CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), the ship “Dali” warned the authorities shortly before the collision.
Accordingly, the freighter lost drive and therefore control when leaving the port in Baltimore.
“The ship informed the MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that it had lost control of the ship and a collision with the bridge was possible,” the portal quotes from the report.
Further: “The ship hit the bridge and it collapsed completely.”
Rescue is currently underway: race against time after bridge collapse in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 12:53 p.m.:
Meanwhile, the fire department is racing against time.
With around ten degrees Celsius in the water, the rescue teams only have about three hours to get the missing people out of the river alive.
CNN weather expert Derek Van Dam also writes this.
The governor of Maryland has now declared a state of emergency so that he can quickly request help from the federal government.
First indications of cause of ship collision in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 12:40 p.m.:
There are now first indications of the cause of the ship collision with the Baltimore Bridge.
Reuters journalist Matthew Keys posts a video on X that shows how the power goes out twice on the “Dali”.
Just before she crashes into the pillar.
The power outages have been officially confirmed, writes Keys.
The scenario: The freighter drives towards the bridge, then loses control due to an initial power failure.
Shortly afterwards he apparently regains it, but then smoke rises and the power goes out again.
Shortly before impact, the crew appeared to have regained control - but too late.
Sky editor Adam Parker makes a similar statement, even giving a detailed schedule:
01:24:32: Power outage lasting 59 seconds.
1:25:31 a.m.: Power back on.
01:24:40: Ship spews smoke.
1:26:37 a.m.: Power outage.
Lights go out.
1:27:07 a.m.: Lights appear to be back on.
01:28:44: Dali hits the bridge.
01:28:48: Bridge collapses.
Update from March 26th, 10:56 a.m.:
The Baltimore Bridge has collapsed like a house of cards.
At the BBC, civil engineer and bridge builder Ian Firth explains: “The support is a relatively weak structure when you look at it, a kind of scaffolding with individual legs.” When the freighter hit the solid structure, a load of several tons was developed The bridge apparently couldn't withstand it.
Firth can only speculate about the cause of the collision.
Of course, the ship should have been sailing in the middle of the canal, “but for some reason it must have gone off course and hit the support.”
Fire officials believe at least 20 people are missing after a bridge collapsed in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 10:25 a.m.:
So far there has been talk of seven people in the Patapsco River, the fire department is correcting this number significantly upwards.
She assumes there are at least 20 people in the nine degree Celsius cold water.
Update from March 26th, 10:12 a.m.:
It is not yet clear how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the accident.
One thing is certain: “There was a large semi-truck on it,” the authorities tell CBS News.
According to this, there are at least seven people in the river.
There were also several workers on the bridge early in the morning pouring concrete.
The police speak of a “serious emergency” and diving and rescue teams are now on site.
“Mass casualty incident”: US authorities upgrade bridge accident in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 9:47 a.m.:
The authorities in Maryland have now classified the bridge accident as a “mass casualty incident”.
In the USA, this refers to an incident in which local administrative authorities and the healthcare system are overwhelmed.
This means that there may be a large number of injured people.
The classification makes it possible to activate the country's military, fire department, police or emergency services.
Map shows which ship hit the bridge in Baltimore
Update from March 26th, 9:29 a.m.:
It is now clear which ship crashed into the bridge pillar.
Tracking data from
vesselfinder.com
shows the moment of the collision.
The bridge was hit by a Dali container ship flying the Singapore flag.
The freighter is 300 meters long and 48 meters wide.
On the map he can still be seen at the scene of the accident.
First report from March 26th, 8:37 a.m.:
Baltimore - Catastrophe at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore (USA).
A cargo ship collided with a bridge pillar and the bridge collapsed.
Several cars fell into the Patapsco River, US media reports unanimously.
Catastrophic accident in the USA: “Large ship” rams bridge – supposedly seven people in the water
The communications director of the Baltimore Fire Department confirms to the BBC that the bridge was hit by a “large ship”.
The first emergency call was received around 1:30 a.m. local time, and a major rescue operation is now underway by the fire department, coast guard and other authorities from the state of Maryland.
There are currently no confirmed reports of injuries.
Seven people and several vehicles are said to have fallen into the water during the collapse.
These could include workers who were working on the bridge.
Video shows bridge collapse in the USA
A video from
BNO News
shows the moment of the collapse.
You can see the silhouette of a container ship crashing head-on into one of the pillars.
The freighter then catches fire and the bridge collapses like a toy.
According to media reports, Mayor Brandon Scott is currently on the way to the scene of the accident to get an idea of the situation.
Traffic in the area is already blocked on all lanes in both directions.
“Pray for those affected”: Situation still unclear after bridge collapse in Baltimore
The chairman of the Baltimore County Executive, Johnny Olszewski Jr, writes on
The extent of the bridge accident can currently only be guessed at.
Olszewski emphasizes: “Rescue is on the way.
Please pray for those affected.”
The accident on the Patapsco River is reminiscent of an incident in February in China.
There, a freighter collided with a bridge, cars crashed and several people died.
(moe/kiba/dpa)