Maryland Governor, Wes Moore, has stated that a collision incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge at Baltimore was not an intentional act.
He stated in a press conference that that the preliminary investigation suggests that the bridge collision was an accident.
Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, snapped and collapsed after a container ship collided with it early on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, sending a number of vehicles into the water.
The ship, called the Gali, struck one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to collapse. It tumbled into the water in a matter of seconds
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Moore said that response teams are still working to rescue people who may have fallen into the water after the bridge collapse.
Six people are still unaccounted for. According to officials, eight people reportedly fell into the water. All eight were construction workers who were assisting with a project.
Two people have been rescued, with one of them “severely” injured and in critical condition.
Authorities said that sonar had detected vehicles in the water, which is about 50 feet (15 meters) deep.
In the immediate aftermath of the bridge collapse, far-right influencers began questioning whether the accident was intentional or part of a nefarious plot.
Authorities so far have said the crash appears to be an accident – the FBI stated that there is “no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time” while the homeland security secretary said that “there are no indications this was an intentional act.”
A report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency also revealed that the ship was in contact with transportation authorities before the collision because it had “lost propulsion.”
Moore confirmed that the bridge was “fully up to code” prior to Tuesday’s accident. Moore added that rebuilding the bridge will be a long-term effort.
“In the face of heart break, we come together. We embrace one another and we come back stronger. That’s what we’ve always done…and that’s what we’re going to get done together. And we’re going to pray for Baltimore.”
Wes Moore
Brandon M Scott, the Mayor of Baltimore, declared a local state of emergency following the Key Bridge collapse.
“Our teams are mobilizing resources and working swiftly to address this crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of our community,” Scott added.
“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” Scott noted, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”
According to a Professor of civil and environmental engineering, the bridge did not appear to have pier protection to withstand the cargo ship crash.
“If a bridge pier without adequate protection is hit by a ship of this size, there is very little that the bridge could do,” he said.
The Professor disclosed that Maryland recently retrofitted another bridge with pier protection devices for about $100 million.
He noted that it is expensive, but the price would pale in comparison with expected losses from the damaged bridge, including additional miles driven, fuel and business costs.
Biden To Make Speech On Key Bridge Collapse
U.S President, Joe Biden is expected to give remarks on the Key Bridge collapse.
According to a statement from the White House, Biden was briefed on the collapse early on Tuesday.
“The President has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the ongoing search and rescue efforts. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day,” the statement read.
In a post on X, Biden revealed that he met with senior members of his team.
“I’ve directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident,” he added.
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