A devastating incident unfolded in Baltimore as the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge partially collapsed on Tuesday, shaking the heart of Maryland. The 1.6-mile-long structure, a crucial connector over the Baltimore Harbor, succumbed after a ship collided with it, leading to a catastrophic failure.
Emergency services sprang into action immediately, with the Baltimore City Fire Department classifying the event as a mass casualty incident. Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night, navigating the darkened and debris-strewn waters in a race against time to locate and save those trapped in the wreckage.
Despite their heroic efforts, officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police announced that search-and-rescue operations were suspended approximately 18 hours after the collapse due to increasingly treacherous conditions. Six workers are currently missing and presumed dead, leaving the community in mourning and grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge not only disrupts daily commutes but also raises concerns about the structural integrity of aging infrastructure in the United States. As Baltimore mourns the loss of its workers, discussions are expected to intensify around the need for thorough inspections and upgrades to prevent such disasters in the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
