#Baltimore, #BaltimoreBridgeCollapse, #US, #PatapscoRiver
IBNS-CMEDIA: Six people, who went missing following the collapse of a bridge in the US city of Baltimore after it was hit by a ship, are presumed dead, media reports said.
However, authorities have not named the identities of the six people.
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on Tuesday following the collision.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters on Tuesday evening as quoted by CNN that the end of the rescue operation was a “really heartbreaking conclusion to a challenging day.”
According to reports, several vehicles were crossing the bridge when the vessel hit the support.
Officials told BBC that the ship suffered a “power issue” and issued a distress call moments before the crash.
Boats and helicopters were engaged in the rescue and search operation following the crash.
Two others were rescued from the water with the condition of one of the persons being critical.
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard was quoted as saying by BBC that the remaining missing men were presumed dead based on the temperature of the waters they had fallen in and the length of time they have been under water.
These eight people were reportedly part of a construction crew.
The ship was carrying 22 Indian crew members
The crew members of the ship which hit the 47-year-old Francis Scott Key Bridge were Indian.
The Singapore-flagged container ship “Dali”, which is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, was on its way to Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
Synergy Marine Group said in a statement: “We confirm the safety of all crew members and two pilots aboard ‘DALI’, with one minor injury reported. The injured crew member has been treated and discharged from hospital. Unfortunately the incident also impacted those who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the time, and based on reports from the Baltimore fire chief and ABC News and other media outlets there have so far been two rescued from the water, including one person with serious injuries.”
“As per the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the search and rescue operation has been called off for the night. Six people are presumed dead. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected and their families,” the statement said.
Joe Biden says the bridge will be reconstructed
US President Joe Biden reacted to the bridge collapse tragedy and said priority should be given to the rescue and relief operation.
“I’ve directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident,” Biden posted on X.
Speaking on the reconstruction of the bridge, he said: ” The Francis Scott Key Bridge is vital to our economy, and it’s vital to our quality of life.” “That’s why I’ve directed my team to work with Maryland and move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible,” he said.
