The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge occurred after a cargo ship collided with it, causing significant damage to the structure. The bridge, which spans outer Baltimore Harbor in Maryland, United States, succumbed to the impact and collapsed.
The accident happened the early hours of Tuesday morning, on March 26, just prior to 1:30 am. Spanning a distance of 3 kilometres, the Francis Scott Key Bridge forms an integral part of the I-95 interstate. Serving as the primary north-south thoroughfare along the eastern coast of the United States, this highway stretches all the way from Miami, Florida to Maine.
Emergency personnel promptly arrived at the location, providing information that around 20 people had fallen into the Patapsco River during the incident. Videos depicting the exact moment of the bridge collapse are circulating on different social media platforms.
The ship tracking information indicates that the cargo vessel involved in the incident was flying the flag of Singapore, and the owners have verified the collision. According to a report from The New York Times, all crew members on board the vessel are unharmed, and the causes of the collision remain unknown.
The local administration sprang into action after the accident and traffic diversions were initiated to avoid chaos. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also took cognizance of the collapsed bridge and assured that emergency services are working on the scene. Francis Scott Key Bridge was constructed in 1977 with an estimated cost of $60.3 million.
