Baltimore Main Bridge Collapse: Daytime aerial footage shows extent of damage

Aerial footage taken during daylight hours reveals the extent of the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after a container ship collided with one of its columns early Tuesday morning. So far, two people have been rescued and local authorities said a “large area” needs to be searched.

Notably, the ship’s manager, Synergy Marine Group, said all crew members on board the container ship that hit the bridge were Indians.

All crew members, including the two pilots, are missing and there are no reports of injuries. The charter manager said there was no pollution either.

The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a “mass casualty incident,” and media reports said several vehicles fell into the Patapsco River below. Rescuers were searching for at least six people in the water.

In the visual, Baltimore’s bridge can be seen sinking into the river alongside a wedge-shaped container ship. Completed in 1977 after five years of construction, the four-lane steel bridge spans the Patapsco River to the Port of Baltimore. It is the busiest automobile shipping port in the United States.

At about 1:30 a.m. local time, a 948-foot-long container ship damaged part of the bridge’s structure, causing several cars to fall into the water and raising concerns about multiple casualties.

The container ship “Dali” was sailing on the Patapsco River when it struck a bridge tower, causing nearly the entire structure to collapse into the water. All 22 crew members, including the two pilots on board, have been accounted for and no one was injured.

The headlights of the vehicle could be seen on the bridge, which fell into the water and the boat caught fire.

Local police confirmed that two people had been rescued and at least six people were still missing. Police said that among those rescued, one was said to be in “very serious condition” Reuters.