The images seem unreal, straight out of a disaster movie.
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday at the port of this Maryland city.
The collapse, caused by a collision with a cargo ship according to the municipality, propelled several vehicles into the waters of the Patapsco River.
At least seven people are still being sought by emergency services, and two have been recovered, one of whom is in serious condition.
An “inconceivable tragedy,” lamented the mayor, who declared a state of emergency, just like the governor of Maryland.
On videos which immortalized the tragedy, which occurred in the middle of the night, we see a ship approaching the bridge before hitting one of its pillars, triggering the collapse of the entire structure of the work in a cloud black smoke.
The spectacular accident would be due to “the collision of a cargo ship with the support beam, causing the bridge to break and fall into the water,” said the city of Baltimore.
The four-lane bridge, 2.6 km long, before its collapse
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
The first images of the collapse, after a cargo ship hit one of the bridge's pillars
A view of the Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali' after it collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, US, in this picture released on March 26, 2024. Harford County MD Fire & EMS/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES.
NO ARCHIVES MANDATORY CREDIT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Aerial images suggest the scale of the disaster
An aerial view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024, in this still image taken from a video.
ABC AFFILIATE WJLA via REUTERS.
THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
NO RESALES.
NO ARCHIVES.
MANDATORY CREDIT.
JULIA NIKHINSON
A security perimeter of several hundred square meters was cordoned off during the search.
Emergency personnel and media crew members work near the Francis Scott Key Bridge, as seen from the Baltimore side, following the bridge collapse, in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
The structure was perforated, cut in two by the collapse, a gaping hole visible from the shore
A general view shows the Francis Scott Key Bridge, as seen from the Baltimore side, following the bridge collapse, in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Also read: Bridge collapsed after cargo ship collision in Baltimore: “No pillar would withstand such a shock”
The road collapsed hundreds of meters, immobilizing the ship which hit the structure
A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson JULIA NIKHINSON
The bridge structure partially collapsed on the cargo ship, without causing any casualties among the crew.
A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson JULIA NIKHINSON
Pillars remained in place, but the road and the railings surrounding it fell into the water
The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge lies in the water after it collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, 2024. The bridge collapsed early March 26 after being struck by the Singapore-flagged Dali container ship, sending multiple vehicles and people plunging into the frigid harbor below.
There was no immediate confirmation of the cause of the disaster, but Baltimore's Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there was "no indication" of terrorism.
(Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) AFP or licensors
In the early morning on site, searches continued to try to find at least seven people still missing.
A boat responds near the Francis Scott Key Bridge, after the Dali cargo vessel crashed into it causing it to collapse, in Baltimore, Maryland, US, March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson
Investigations are underway to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy.
The police have not yet noted “any indication” that could suggest a “terrorist act”.
This collapse shut down the port of Baltimore, one of the busiest in the United States, through which gigantic container ships but also cruise liners pass every year.
Maritime traffic is “suspended until further notice”, the authorities said.
Priority is given to rescue operations and searches for victims, on the surface and at the bottom of the water.