The Singapore-flagged vessel collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.
Maryland:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stressed that Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed early Tuesday, was not an ordinary bridge but one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure, adding that normal roads must be restored It’s not easy.
The Singapore-flagged vessel collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland on Tuesday, causing the bridge to collapse.
After the accident, the U.S. Transportation Secretary said it would be time-consuming and laborious to get everything back to normal.
“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure. It has been part of the region’s skyline for longer than many of us have been alive. So the road back to normal will not be smooth. It It won’t happen quickly and it won’t be cheap, but we will work together to make sure it happens,” he said.
He further expressed his gratitude for the extraordinary and courageous work of the first responders, some of whom are now in the freezing water, where some of them are from.
“We’re all reaching out to the Baltimore community, and that’s true for the entire country,” Buttigieg said.
He further noted that he has heard from colleagues as far away as the United Kingdom expressing support for the people of Baltimore.
In addition, Buttigieg remains in close contact with governors, mayors, county leaders and congressional delegations.
“As President Biden has made clear, the federal government will provide all the support they need as possible,” he said.
The President’s plan is to work with everyone here to rebuild this bridge and reopen this port, “including our readiness as a department to approve emergency funding as soon as it is requested,” he added.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Maritime Administration will help harbor, harbor and supply chain operations.
“The Federal Aviation Administration is even involved in trying to make sure the airspace above the bridge is available for emergency responders,” he said.
Additionally, he said, “We will work closely with the National Transportation Safety Board as they lead the independent investigation, and with the Coast Guard as they continue to operate in the water.”
Buttigieg added that the Coast Guard’s work to rebuild the bridge while dealing with the impacts is just beginning, “reopening the port while dealing with the supply chain impacts.”
But today, their biggest focus is on the ongoing emergency operations and the families affected.
Local Baltimore resident Crystal Pears said it would be a tragedy if the bridge collapsed later in the day because thousands of people would use the bridge to commute.
“It would be a tragedy (if the bridge collapsed later in the day). My husband is a truck driver and he uses that bridge to commute… To me, it would hit home … If it had happened at 1:40 p.m., we would have had a very different experience…” Pierce said.
She further emphasized that the bridge has a long history in the United States.
“That’s how our national anthem, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ came about. It’s named after the author of our national anthem, Francis Scott Key,” she emphasized.
She further emphasized that the impact will be huge, “So there’s a lot of history in Maryland itself, and there’s a lot of history in Dundalk with people that I don’t even know about, which is incredible. And the Baltimore area is right there. Here, so the impact is huge.”
Pears added that the bridge was built 47 years ago, so there is a lot of sentimentality about the bridge in the community.
“The people who live in this community, their grandparents and parents, helped build this bridge 47 years ago and it just celebrated its birthday this month. So there’s a lot of affection in the community,” she said.
Another resident, Kely June Pears, said she heard noises and her house shaking around 1:30 a.m.
“Around 1:30 in the morning I heard a noise and the house was shaking…it only happened for about 5 seconds. I was really scared…my brother came over and told me the bridge collapsed,” she said.
The Indian Embassy in the United States has a dedicated hotline number for those affected or in need of assistance.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the tragic incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. For any Indian citizens who may be affected/need assistance, the Indian Embassy has set up a dedicated hotline: please contact us at +1 -202-717-1996. Please avoid sending routine inquiries/requests to this number.” Indian Embassy in the United States posted on X.
We offer our sincere condolences to all those affected by the tragic accident on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
For any Indian citizens who may be affected/need assistance, the Indian Embassy has set up a dedicated hotline: please contact us at +1-202-717-1996. …
— India in America (@IndianEmbassyUS) March 26, 2024
A 948-foot container ship has crashed into a four-lane bridge in the Port of Baltimore, US.
Earlier today, US President Joe Biden said that two of the eight people missing after the Baltimore bridge collapsed had been rescued, while rescue operations were ongoing for the remaining six.
Biden also said ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice and the channel will be cleared before ship traffic can resume again.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
