Mass Casualty Event Declared As Baltimore Bridge Collapses

A tragic incident took place early Tuesday morning when Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, leaving at least seven people unaccounted for.

The Baltimore City Fire Department and other emergency personnel are on site, desperately trying to find these people. Meanwhile, social media users are sharing their prayers and concerns.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore partially collapsed today after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a "mass casualty incident" with at least seven people in the water.

"We received several 911 calls at around 1:30 a.m. that a vessel struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the collapse," Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, said as he addressed the situation in a statement. He added:

"This is currently a mass casualty incident, and we are searching for seven people who are in the river."

According to The USA Today, other sources reported that the ship had caught fire and several vehicles had plunged into the river below. "This is a dire emergency," Cartwright said in another statement, adding, "Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people."

Ship tracking data from LSEG showed a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Dali had been at the location along the Key Bridge where the accident occurred. The registered owner of the vessel is reportedly Grace Ocean Pte Ltd., which Synergy Marine Group manages.

The Synergy Marine Corp confirmed the Dali caused the tragic incident after colliding with one of the bridge's pillars. Fortunately, all of its crew members, including two pilots, have been accounted for, and there were no reports of any injuries.

Baltimore's Mayor, Brendon Scott, also addressed the situation on X. He explained that he was aware of the incident and was en route to the bridge. "Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway," he wrote.

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) similarly responded on X, warning citizens about the collapsed bridge. "All lanes closed in both directions for the incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured," they noted.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is named after the author of the "Star Spangled Banner." It is a 1.6-mile, 4-lane bridge that crosses the Patapsco River and was opened in 1977.

When it was built, the steel-arched bridge, with a total length of 8,636 feet, was the second-longest continuous-truss bridge span in the world. It remains the second-longest in the United States and third-longest in the world.

Its span is the outermost of three major Patapsco River crossings at Baltimore Harbor, with its port’s private and public terminals carrying numerous vehicles.

It reportedly handled 847,158 cars and light trucks in 2023, the most of any U.S. port. It also handles farm and construction machinery, sugar, gypsum, and coal.

The news of Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse sparked numerous reactions on social media, with many expressing their thoughts and feelings on X. Someone lamented the devastation vehicle owners must have felt at that moment, writing:

"Seeing that bridge collapse in Baltimore is devastating, and to know people were driving on it and couldn't do nothing about it as it crashed into the water is even more devastating lord I can't imagine that and the feeling they must have felt."

Another X user highlighted why the bridge is crucial to many, writing, "The reason why the Key bridge is so important: fuel or other chemicals cannot enter the tunnels."

"Baltimore is about to go through a serious crisis. Most major supplies cross the bridge. Rerouting is not a simple thing. It's going to be a logistical fluster cluck," the individual concluded.

"Not the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsing. Omg, this is exactly why I am terrified of bridges. Wow,” a third shared. While a fourth wrote, "Praying for those on the bridge in Baltimore."

The tragic news naturally made many concerned about the reported people in the water, with one X user hoping for the best. The individual's message read:

"What happened in Baltimore is so sad and I hope those who have fallen in the water are rescued. What I don't understand is, there is always a chance of a vessel hitting the span so why wasn't something done to stop the complete loss of the bridge?"

They weren't the only ones wondering how the incident happened as another person shared their theories about the bridge's collapse.

"It appears there were a couple of power losses on the cargo ship right before it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, before collapsing it," the individual claimed.

"That is the worst nightmare anyone can face when crossing a bridge. What's also just as bad is the effect this will have for the months to come. Praying for Baltimore," a third shared.