Viral Video Of Baltimore Key Bridge Collapsing: Vehicles Plunge Into Water After Ship Collision

A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being collided with by a cargo ship, leading to multiple vehicles being sent into the water.

Around 1:30 am, the bridge was crashed into by a vessel, which subsequently caught fire and sank.

Baltimore Key Bridge Collapse

A video shared on X appeared to indicate that a significant portion of the 2.6km bridge had given way, resulting in several vehicles falling into the water below. A notice was posted on X by the Maryland Transportation Authority, stating that all lanes were closed in both directions due to the incident on I-695 Key Bridge, with traffic being detoured.

According to Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department, emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water. At least seven people believed to be in the water were being searched for by emergency responders, as stated by Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department, as reported by Associated Press.

It was reported by agencies around 1:30 am that a vessel traveling outbound from Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles, including one the size of a tractor-trailer, were on the bridge at the time. Cartwright emphasized that the focus was currently on attempting to rescue and recover the individuals affected by the incident.

The collapse was described by him as a "developing mass casualty event." It was noted by Cartwright that there appeared to be "some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge," creating unsafe and unstable conditions and complicating the rescue operation. He stated, "This is a dire emergency," as reported by The Gaurdian.

Matthew West, a petty officer first class for the coastguard in Baltimore, that a report of an impact was received by the coastguard at 1:27 am ET. It was stated by West that the bridge, part of Interstate 695, was hit by the Dali, a 948ft (29-meter) Singapore-flagged cargo ship, as reported by New York Times.

According to the maritime data platform MarineTraffic, the Dali had departed Baltimore at 1 am and was en route to the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. It was announced by Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. that emergency personnel were present at the scene and rescue efforts were underway.