6 construction workers feared dead after Baltimore bridge collapse

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, US. The bridge collapsed on 26 March after a cargo ship ran into one of its support beams. (Image: Adobe Stock)

US President Joe Biden held a press conference at approximately 12:30 p.m. yesterday (26 March) during which he said the US Coast Guard was leading the emergency response, which continued throughout the day.

“Everything so far indicates this was a terrible accident,” said Biden, adding there is no “reason to believe there’s any intentional act here.”

The cargo ship was reported to belong to shipping management company Synergy Group, which is based in Singapore. The contents of the vessel were property of Maersk.

Initially, eight construction workers were reported missing, but two were located, said Biden; one without serious injuries and another that was sent to a local hospital.

The president said multiple vehicles also fell into the river below and a search-and-rescue operation was underway. However, the six missing workers are now presumed to be dead.

Reports stated that labourers were believed to have been filling potholes on the bridge’s roadway in the middle of the night when the bridge collapsed at 1:28 a.m. local time. 

Other agencies on the scene, Biden said, included the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Transportation and the Army Corps of Engineers. He also noted communication and cooperation with State of Maryland officials, and Baltimore’s city police and fire departments.

The Army Corps of Engineers said it is providing certified underwater assessment capabilities by structural professional engineers, remotely operated vehicle and sonar. Its structural engineering support, includes certified bridge safety inspectors and urban search and rescue structural technical specialists.

The president said he plans to urge the US Congress to use federal funds to begin the bridge repair. During questioning following Biden’s press conference, Biden suggested financial restitution from the responsible parties would come after reconstruction starts.

“I’ve directed my team to move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible,” he said.

About the Francis Scott Key Bridge

Opened in 1977, the bridge was a continuous through truss that spanned the lower Patapsco River and outer Port of Baltimore and its harbour. It connected – carrying Maryland motorway Route 695 – Baltimore with the community of Dundalk, Maryland.

It spanned 8,636 ft (2,632m) with a main truss length of 1,200 ft (366m), which was the third longest main run of any continuous truss in the world.

Biden, at the Tuesday briefing, said the Baltimore harbour is one of the nation’s largest shipping hubs.

“Around 850,000 vehicles go through that port every single year,” he said, adding that 15,000 jobs depend on the port, and 30,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

Timeline of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

At 1:24 a.m., a cargo ship named Dali flashed its lights, signalling it had lost power to its ship.

By 1:27 a.m., the ship’s personnel made the first call to the US Coast Guard, informing the authority they had lost control of the ship.

Just one minute later (1:28 a.m.), the ship struck a support pillar for the bridge, and the structure almost immediately collapsed, video showed.

Despite the narrow window, Biden said communication from the ship and action by local authorities may have been life-saving.

“Authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck,” Biden said, “which undoubtedly saved lives.”

Emergency crews arrived at the scene by 1:50 a.m.

At 3:20 a.m., the Maryland Transportation Authority officially confirmed the bridge collapsed due to a cargo ship collision.

At 6:40 a.m., Danish shipping company Maersk released a statement on the collision and bridge collapse.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore. Our thoughts are with all of those affected,” said Maersk. “We can confirm that the container vessel ‘Dali’, operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group, is time-chartered by Maersk and is carrying Maersk customers’ cargo.

“No Maersk crew [or] personnel were on-board the vessel.”

Around 6:58 a.m., Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) stated it would cooperate with the US Coast Guard on an investigation. The MPA also announced it would launch its own investigation of the incident.

Representatives from Synergy Group were expected to meet with the US Coast Guard the afternoon of 26 March.