Baltimore bridge collapse: 2 rescued, several missing after people, vehicles plunge into water

Astonishing footage shows the moment the vessel plowed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, sending the colossal steel structure crashing into the Patapsco River

A frantic search for survivors is currently underway in Baltimore after a massive cargo ship collided with the city’s Key Bridge, causing it to collapse dramatically into the water within seconds.

Multiple workers and vehicles were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River when the Dali vessel crashed into a support pillar around 1:30 am ET local time.

According to an unclassified report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cited by ABC News, the Dali "lost propulsion" as it left the port, with the crew alerting Maryland officials that they had lost control of the container ship.

The crew cautioned the MD Department of Transportation that an "allision with the bridge was possible," the report stated. "The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse."

Heart-wrenching footage captured the bridge crumpling into the frigid waters.

Baltimore officials are on a race to save up to 20 people who plunged into the Patapsco River after a Singaporean cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge

Nearly five hours later, Baltimore police announced at a 6:15 am ET press conference that only two individuals had been rescued from the waters so far.

One of the victims is now in critical condition fighting for their life in a hospital trauma unit, while the second person, fortunately, sustained no injuries and declined medical assistance, as per police.

Multiple agencies are now racing against time to rescue at least seven individuals believed to be in the water, with temperatures plummeting to around 30°F (-1°C) at the time of the incident.

Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Tuesday morning following the catastrophic collision at about 1.30am

The number of those unaccounted for may rise, as sonar has detected multiple vehicles submerged in the chilly river, and officials have learned that workers were also on the bridge during the crash.

During the press conference, James Wallace, the fire chief from the Baltimore City Fire Department, described the search as a "very large incident with a large footprint."

In addition to the cold weather, search teams are contending with darkness and a vast debris field as they strive to locate people who have likely been in the water for an extended period.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency and is collaborating with an interagency team to mobilize federal resources.

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Kevin Cartwright, the fire department's communications director, stated that the city is dealing with a "developing mass casualty incident."

A significant portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge now lies underwater, as shown by flight tracking website FlightRadar24, which depicted Maryland State Police helicopters circling the crash site.

Mr. Cartwright emphasized that a multi-agency rescue operation is ongoing, with dive team members actively scouring the river to locate individuals feared to be in the water.

It was not immediately clear what caused the cargo ship to crash into the bridge

The US Coast Guard has deployed small boats and helicopters to aid in the search for the potentially stranded individuals in the water.

However, freezing conditions are a concern as rescue personnel continue their efforts. Mr. Cartwright noted, "It feels like at least about 30 degrees (-1°C) where I am... And I’m sure that the water temperature is even colder... And that can pose a concern and risk for our divers."

The container ship involved is a Singapore-flagged vessel named Dali, according to live maritime data on Tuesday. It had just left the port in Baltimore and was en route to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, scheduled to arrive in late April.

At the first press conference around 6:30 am, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace could only confirm that two people were pulled from the water

The owners have confirmed that all crew members, including two pilots, on the container ship are safe and uninjured.

Officials have stated that there is no indication of terrorism being involved in the incident. "There is absolutely no indication that there’s any terrorism, that this was done on purpose," Chief Richard Worley emphasized.

The White House has stated that it is "monitoring" the situation.

The bridge spans 9,000 feet across the Patapsco River and is 180 feet above the water

United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated that he has spoken with Mayor Scott and Governor Moore to offer the Department of Transportation’s support following the bridge collapse.

He added that rescue efforts are ongoing.