The first two of six people who are missing, and now presumed dead, have been named after a massive cargo ship rammed into a bridge, causing it to collapse into the river below in scenes captured in harrowing videos.
The ship that rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which extends out over the Patapsco River and serves as the gateway to the Port of Baltimore, a major East Coast shipping hub, was called the DALI and sailed under Singaporean flags. Officials at the scene estimate eight people went in the water and two have been rescued — one who refused medical help and one rushed to hospital in critical condition.
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Ship operators called in a mayday moments before their vessel struck the bridge, which allowed the authorities to limit traffic on the stretch to the best of their abilities before disaster literally struck. The incident, which occurred at approximately 1.30am local time, was not described as intentional — the ship reportedly lost power before it crashed into one of the bridge's support pillars.
"This is a dire emergency," Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, said. "Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people."
Recap all the updates from throughout today below
Divers battle through mangled metal and darkness to find the missing divers
Gov. Wes Moore on Wednesday praised divers who have spent hours in frigid water.
“They are down there in darkness where they can literally see about a foot in front of them,” he said. “They are trying to navigate mangled metal and they’re also in a place it is now presumed that people have lost their lives, so the work of these first responders, the work of these divers, I cannot stress enough how remarkable these individuals are.”
Crew of ship that rammed bridge may be trapped in wreckage for two weeks
The crew of the stricken ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge could be stranded on the boat for weeks among the wreckage, it is feared.
Initial reports suggest as the cargo ship Dali was a few minutes out, it lost all power, including to its engines. The crew contacted the local authorities and police had just managed to close the Francis Scott Key Bridge before the impact happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Read the full story here.
Second missing man identified
A Honduran man, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandova, has been identified as among the missing men.
The search has now resumed for the day but those missing are presumed dead.
Recovery efforts for the six workers resume
Divers have returned to the site today after challenging overnight conditions improved. Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said in a text message that “recovery efforts are underway.”
The six people unaccounted for and presumed dead were part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge.
All 6 workers missing after bridge collapse presumed dead
All six workers missing after the Baltimore bridge collapsed are presumed dead and the search for them has been suspended until Wednesday morning.
Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police, said Tuesday evening that the search and rescue mission was transitioning to one of search and recovery. He says divers would return to the site at 6 a.m. Wednesday when challenging overnight conditions were expected to improve.
Former fire chief says bridge collapse ‘felt like an earthquake’
Donald Heinbuch, a retired fire chief for Baltimore, said he was startled awake by a deep rumbling that shook his house for several seconds.
“It felt like an earthquake,” he said. “Or like rolling thunder.”
Heinbuch turned on his police scanner and discovered the noise had come from the nearby bridge, a favored fishing spot that he’d driven over countless times. He said he rushed to the scene in shock.
“The ship was there, and the bridge was in the water, like it was blown up,” he said.
Heinbuch said he watched divers slip into their gear and coordinate a rescue plan as pontoon boats made their way to shore. Several departments also offered help, he said.
“All these little things that we practiced all the time had to be put in place,” Heinbuch said. “Everyone acted fast ... even as the significance of what had happened was still sinking in.”
Missing man's wife in the dark about rescue efforts
The wife of missing Miguel Luna, 49, spent the day waiting to hear any information as to her husband's whereabouts. María del Carmen Castellón was among several family members of the missing who were allowed access to the restricted disaster zone yesterday while a huge search and rescue operation was underway.
But, it was an anxious wait, desperate for any news of her husband, who had been on the bridge with fellow construction workers repairing potholes. Speaking to Telemundo 44 in Spanish, from the scene yesterday she said: "They only tell us that we have to wait, that for now, they can't give us information. [We feel] devastated, because our heart is broken, because we don't know if they've rescued them yet. We're just waiting to hear any news."
Fellow Brawner Builders construction worker Jesús Campos had worked with some of those who disappeared after the bridge collapsed for yers. He said: "Watching what's happening makes my heart hurt.
"We're human beings and they're my coworkers. God willing, they're alive. It's what we're hoping for most."
The search is set to resume at around 6am local time, 10am GMT.
First missing person named
The first person missing after the horrific Baltimore bridge collapse has been named, as all six still missing are presumed dead.
Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, has been named as one of the people on the bridge when it collapsed after being hit by the cargo ship Dali. The missing are said to be construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge when the ship hit a support beam, causing the Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse into the icy waters below.
All six are said to have worked for Brawner Builders. One of their colleagues, Jose Campos, was seen at a nearby petrol station, saying he wasn't sure where else to wait for news. He told Sky News: "My friends were working there, it's a very hard day."
Crew of Dali ship could be stranded for TWO WEEKS as wreckage cleared
The crew aboard Dali, the ship that rammed into the bridge, could be stranded aboard the vessel for up to two weeks as crews work to clear the debris from the fallen structure.
The Daily Mail reported that Andy Middleton, of the Apostleship of the Sea, said he helped the crew as they prepared for their 28-day voyage and has been in contact with them since, ensuring that they have everything they need to survive the long stint.
Middleton told the publication that he would be doing everything in his power to ensure the crew has the supplies necessary to stay alive and operational as they reportedly work to ensure that the vessel doesn't sink and to make repairs, where they can.
The only time any of the men would be able to go back to land, he said, would be if they were in immediate danger and the vessel was taking on water.
Clearing the wreckage will not be an easy or short task, Middleton said as he noted the crew could remain stuck for anywhere between 10 and 14 days.
Investigation into potentially contaminated fuel aboard Dali underway
Why did the Dali lose power? That's the question on everyone's minds as the investigation into the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore continues.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the issue may have stemmed from problems with the container ship's fuel source. Dirty fuel, the publication reported, could have had a detrimental impact on the vessel's power systems.
Now, a probe is investigating the safety of the ship's fuel system to determine whether or not it was to blame for the mass casualty event that claimed the lives of seven people on Tuesday morning, sources familiar with the investigation told the publication.
Brawner Builders worker describes fear of operating on bridge, describes messages with missing six
A Brawner Builders employee who was not one of the six on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed describes what it's like working on the structure and the fear of watching massive ships passing underneath.
Jesus Campos spoke to The Associated Press and said he knew many of the workers who are now missing, stating that he had been messaging them or had heard about what they were going through at the time of the tragic incident as he said they were on their breaks and sitting in their trucks.
He said he "know[s] what it feels like when the trailers pass" and that he would often picture what would happen if the bridge or anyone on it were to fall.
"Imagine knowing that is falling. It is so hard. One would not know what to do." The incident happened so quickly that the crew members likely wouldn't have been able to react.
Search suspended after 16 hours for 6 missing people as all are officially presumed dead
The search for the six missing construction crew members who found themselves atop the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has been suspended until Wednesday morning just 16 hours after the fatal incident as all are officially presumed dead.
Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland L. Butler Jr. said on Tuesday evening that the search and rescue mission launched for the six individuals, who were all employees of Brawner Builders, has turned into one of recovery.
He announced that divers would return to the site at 6am local time on Wednesday to resume the search, when he noted that the challenges of overnight conditions are slated to have improved.
Six people still missing after reports of body recovered
Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told CNN that rescuers are still searching for six missing people in the ongoing response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The team involved has expanded since its inception, now including more personnel and dive teams.
Sonar technology has been utilized to locate submerged vehicles. One individual was transported to a trauma centre in serious condition, while another declined medical assistance.
Measures, including the placement of harbour containment boom, are being taken to contain an oil sheen resulting from the incident. Diesel fuel was detected earlier, indicating the presence of the sheen before it was visible.
Bridge collapse survivor says he "watched the ship get closer"
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore talked to the unnamed individual who was pulled from the water this morning unharmed, and said the man told him he and the group "watched the ship get closer" before they tumbled into the water with the bridge.
Moore explained it was normal for these guys, who often took bridge jobs, to watch ships coming and going every night, as every ship leaving the port passes under the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
"But when you see the size, the enormity of that kind of vessel, coming at the speed that it was at and even the slightest adjustments that you saw here means the difference between a successful passage and catastrophe," Moore said.
"The moments between when the crew called for a mayday and the moments that the bridge actually collapsed, we're talking seconds," Moore said on CNN.
Rescue teams are searching for six more workers, though one body was reportedly pulled from the river earlier tonight.
Waning daylight and too much debris will stop overnight search
Waning daylight and steel that fell into the river are hampering rescue efforts, a fire official said. In addition, the high tide, the wind, and generally wintery conditions have prevented divers from going in.
“The water’s deep. Visibility’s low. It’s cold as I don’t know what,” said Kevin Cartwright, a spokesman for the Baltimore City Fire Department.
It's likely the teams will have to stop their search at sundown, in less than two hours. They'll resume tomorrow first thing, says the source.
"An abundance of twisted metal and debris" keeping divers from searching the river
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks wrote on social media that divers are having a hard time searching the Patapsco River due to all the debris from the bridge.
"An update from our Police Dive Team in Baltimore— underwater drones have shown an abundance of twisted metal and debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, making it unsafe for divers to enter so far. Our team continues to standby," wrote Alsobrooks.
Employer of six missing construction crew members says they're 'presumed dead'
Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, said the crew was working in the middle of the bridge’s span when the crash happened and crumbled the bridge.
The bodies of the workers have not yet been recovered, except one, but they are presumed to have died given the water’s depth and the amount of time that has passed since the crash, he said.
“This was so completely unforeseen,” he said. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers,” he added. “But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse.”
Baltimore Mayor Scott and Gov Wes Moore say 'this is still a rescue mission'
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said authorities are still searching for survivors in a press conference, flanked by other government officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Butigeg.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he’s spent time with the families of victims. “The strength of these families is absolutely remarkable,” he said.
"This is very much still a search and rescue mission," Moore said. "We are still actively looking for survivors ... and that’s a pledge we made to these families."
"There is not a single resource that we will hold off on deploying. I have already authorized the deployment of everything from air, land and sea resources to make sure that this search and rescue operation is carried out to its fullest intent," he added.
"There’s going to be a long road, not just as we go from search and rescue," he said. "There’ll be a long road as we talk about, 'What does the future of this region, the future of the area look like?' And we’re gonna need each and every one of you."
First body pulled from water after collapse
Reported first by CNN, a body may have been recovered from the Patapsco River, according to a city council member.
Baltimore City Council Member Phylicia Porter told CNN: “We are hearing one body was found,” she said. Search and rescue teams are continuing to look for the six people, who are presumed dead due to the time lapsed and temperature of the water.
Few details are known about the two individuals that have been rescued, and government officials have been tight-lipped about the identities of anyone involved for privacy's sake.
Missing construction workers were "on a break" says tearful colleague
A construction company employee that worked with the missing crew says he was told his co-workers were on a break.
Some were sitting in their trucks when a Baltimore bridge collapsed early Tuesday after being struck by a container ship. Recordings show that emergency personnel were able to shut the road behind them and were seconds away from alerting the construction crew that the ship was coming when the bridge collapsed.
Brawner Builders employee Jesus Campos says he learned about the disaster from a co-worker and immediately worried about colleagues he knew were working on the bridge.
“When he told me that, they came to mind and I was praying to God that nothing had happened to them,” Campos said, speaking in Spanish.
“It is so hard for me to describe. I know that a month ago I was there, and I know what it feels like when the trailers pass. Imagine knowing that it is falling. It is so hard, one would not know what to do,” Campos said.
Pete Buttigieg arrives on site, confirms 'this will be a major impact to supply chains'
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was called about the bridge collapse around 3:30 am today. He and his team immediately arranged to come to Baltimore.
"There is no question that this will be a major and protracted impact to supply chains. It's too soon to offer estimates on what it will take to clear the channel and reopen the port," Buttigieg said during a news conference.
Buttigieg added that the path to rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge won’t be easy or quick, parroting the city's government.
"This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he said at a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”
Buttigieg thanked first responders, including those still in the water as he spoke, and offered comfort to those “who woke up today to the news that no one wants to receive.”
Francis Scott Key Bridge just celebrated 47th Birthday with Facebook post
The Maryland Transportation Authority, keepers of the Key Bridge, which collapsed today in Baltimore, posted an eerie status on Saturday in celebration of the landmark's 47th birthday.
The photo on Facebook shows the bridge in its beginning stages, before it was built. It eerily looks like the scene laid out today, after the collapse. In the birthday photo, taken 1977, the bridge is uncompleted, with the ends sticking out just over the water. Now, after the cargo ship crash, the bridge looks about the same.
Maryland governor reveals search and rescue teams 'still actively looking for survivors'
The governor of Maryland has given an update on the bridge collapse, revealing it is "very much still a search and rescue mission".
Wes Moore added: "We are still actively looking for surviors". He said a "pledge" has been made to the families of those still missing.
But the governor reminded the public that it will not be a "short" mission, claiming there is a "long road" ahead.
Transportation board head: "The focus has been on the people”
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy gave a press briefing at around 2:40 pm today, and while she couldn't share "much information," she said that "the focus has been on the people."
Additionally, she said that she and her team plan to get the recording off the ship to be able to pinpoint every detail and see what went wrong with the crash.
She said that her team "chose not to board the vessel today to allow time for search and recovery first." While the NTSB is not the head of the recovery effort, they will lead the investigation.
Homendy said that she "heard a lot of conflicting information," and stated, "we still need to verify crew members aboard and their status." So far, officials have said that the ship's crew members were all fine and were detained, but this may change as more information is given to the public.
Homendy brought the conversation back to those affected and their families at various points during the Q&A. She said, "I want to extend our deepest sympathies to those that have been affected by this significant event. The NTSB has faced many events... we do accidents and incidents in marine safety, and of course, bridges and other infrastructure... our deepest sympathies go out to families, loved ones, and those affected."
The investigation "will take time" as Homendy and her team plan to dig into every detail of the case. She voed to "collect information on vessel operations, safety history, safety records, look at the owner, they’ll look at company policy, safety management program, and our human performance team."
"We have an engineering team, survival factors, and a team here that is getting the recorders. We also have a highway safety team including structural engineers, and bridge experts that will continue to come in in the next few hours. We also have a family assistance team that works with those affected by a particular event. Families, friends and particular loved ones will help get in touch with the resources we need," Homendy went on.
Locals and union officials are afraid to be "without their livelihood"
The Baltimore Port is not only one of the busiest ports in the United States, but it is a large employer in the state.
One ship worker, Betty, interviewed on-the-scene by Washington Post journalists, said that she and her whole family work at the port. She said it took them three days to load up the ship that eventually crashed. She added that she feared that her family would be left "without their livelihood" if the port stays closed for an extended period of time.
"We are at a standstill, we make our living off of import and export cargo, unloading and loading, discharging and loading ships," Scott Cowan, president of ILA Local 333, said.
"This is going to put a very big strain on the economy in the state of Maryland because the port of Baltimore is one of the main engines, main drivers of the economy of Maryland, this is going to create a big problem."
Additionally, it may create waves all over, as shipping is often connected. “It’s not just the port of Baltimore that’s going to be impacted,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport.
With some already diverting their ships to other ports in New York and Virginia, those ports are now scrambling to find the staff and work out the logistics. It may cause delays in shipping of some items.
The shipwas chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk, which is one of the largest in the world. Maersk was first to announce that they are diverting all ships and avoiding the Baltimore port for the 'foreseeable future.'
The ship, DALI, is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group.
Baltimore Orioles cancel team rally event scheduled tonight
The Baltimore Orioles have cancelled a workout and rally for fans that was scheduled for Tuesday night.
The event at Oriole Park at Camden Yards was part of the leadup to Thursday’s Opening Day, when the team will host the Los Angeles Angels. Instead, the team said, the event was cancelled in light of the bridge collapse.
“Baltimore, we’re a tight-knit and resilient community,” the team posted on X. “Together we will get through this.”
The bridge, part of I-695, once spanned the Patapsco River, a vital artery that almost 40,000 commuters take on the daily. Without it, many residents report that their commute will be lengthened by 40 minutes.
Currently, all roads are being used by rescue teams and other officials helping with the recovery and cleanup efforts. It's recommended to stay away from the main roads that lead to the I-695 in Baltimore going towards the Key Bridge.
Man pulled from river after bridge collapsed discharged from University of Maryland hospital
One of the men rescued from Patapsco River water was just released from the University of Maryland Medical Center in stable condition.
He was taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Center to check in, but he was reported as 'fine' when he was pulled from the water. The other rescuee is still in the hospital, condition unknown.
Authorities scrambled to shut down bridge, recording shows
The ship sent a mayday minutes before it crashed. Officials on duty had seconds to call and warn of the ship approaching the bridge, according to a Broadcastify recording of the transmissions.
"I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge. There's a ship approaching that just lost their steering so until we get that under control, we've got to stop all traffic," the person said.
Through the audio recordings, it can be ascertained that the bridge collapsed about 90 seconds later. CNN confirmed that the bridge collapsed at 1:27 a.m. ET.
"The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever … everybody. The whole bridge just collapsed," a person is heard on the radio.
“Do we know what traffic was stopped?” another person later said. “I can’t get to the other side, sir. The bridge is down," another person responded.
Biden vows to move 'heaven and earth' to rebuild Key Bridge
President Joe Biden addressed the nation in a press conference, vowing to 'move heaven and Earth' to get the Key Bridge in Baltimore rebuilt.
Biden said that his administration will pay for the bridge repairs, as the commuter center is used by at least 40,000 cars every single day. He added that he hopes, "congress will work with me."
The President said in a somber tone that "this will take some time" but asked the people of Baltimore to "stick with us" as they clear the debris, open up the ports, and try to rebuild this main bridge as quickly as possible.
For now, though, "The search and rescue operation is our top priority."
"Our prayers are with everyone involved especially the families waiting for news on their loved ones. We are incredibly grateful for the incredible rescuers that rushed to the scene and to the people of Baltimore," added Biden.
Biden also addressed the economic concerns of having a high-traffic channel and port down for any amount of time. Currently, all seven cargo ships scheduled to dock at Baltimore port have been rerouted to New York and other East Coast stops.
The "Army reserve is on site and will be assisting. The Baltimore port is a top shipping hub, top port in America for automobiles… we’re going to get it up and running again as soon as possible. The bridge.. is one of the most important for economy.. and for the quality of life. We will move heaven and earth to rebuild the bridge and work hand in hand with the state of Maryland," to ensure it will be done quickly, stated Biden from the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
Bridge in 'fair' condition but owners of cargo ship have litigious past
The most recent federal data shows the bridge was rated as being in fair condition overall before the crash.
The Federal Highway Administration, who rates bridges, gave the Key Bridge a 'satisfactory' regarding the condition of their substructure and superstructure.
But, Synergy Marine, the parent company of the ship that hit the bridge, and the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd, have been sued at least four times in U.S. federal court on allegations of negligence and other claims tied to worker injuries on other ships owned and operated by the Singapore-based companies.
One lawsuit, in 2019, involved a man from Oregon who broke several bones when a rope ladder he was using to board a refrigerated cargo vessel snapped, sending him 25 feet to the ground.
Also that year, a Texas worker was injured when a hatch on the same ship, the M/V Star Leader, was prematurely opened without warning by a ship’s crew member.
In 2021, a longshoreman in Savannah, Georgia, sued Synergy when he tumbled 5 feet on a gangway whose handrail collapsed, injuring his back and shoulder.
All three lawsuits were settled out of court. A fourth case, involving a worker at the port of Houston who was pinned underneath a stack of metal pipes he was trying to remove, was dismissed.