Baltimore bridge collapse: How it happened, fatalities and next steps after Maryland tragedy

By Ishita Verma
Published on : 03:12 PST, Mar 27, 2024

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge bridge collapsed after a cargo ship named Dali crashed into it (Getty Images)

All we know about Baltimore Francis Key Bridge Collapse

In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. According to reports, rescuers are still searching for multiple people, while two survivors have been pulled from the Patapsco River. A work crew was fixing potholes on the bridge, which is used by roughly 30,000 people each day, when the ship struck at around 1:30am on Tuesday morning. The accident has temporarily closed the Port of Baltimore, one of the largest and busiest on the East Coast of the U.S. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) — Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge went down after a cargo ship crashed into it (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The cargo ship Dali met a disastrous incident as it was leaving Baltimore Harbor on March 26. The crew lost control of the ship which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge's support column. The incident triggered a significant emergency response from Baltimore police, firefighters, and the US Coast Guard. Authorities estimated that as many as 20 vehicles fell into the water, along with several workers who were part of a maintenance team repairing potholes on the bridge. Let's take a look at all the key developments since the tragic incident.

1. Coast Guard halts search and rescue operations

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard patrol near the cargo ship Dali as it sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. According to reports, rescuers are still searching for multiple people, while two survivors have been pulled from the Patapsco River. A work crew was fixing potholes on the bridge, which is used by roughly 30,000 people each day, when the ship struck at around 1:30am on Tuesday morning. The accident has temporarily closed the Port of Baltimore, one of the largest and busiest on the East Coast of the U.S. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) — US Coast Guard search for six missing construction workers in Patapsco River (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The Coast Guard announced it would pause search operations on March 26 evening and commence recovery efforts on March 27 at 6 am for the six construction workers who are presumed to be dead. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath stated, "Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature. At this point, we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive." Maryland State Police's Colonel Roland Butler expressed hope of deploying divers for a thorough search to recover the missing individuals.

2. Rescue teams recover one body after Baltimore bridge crash

Baltimore City Council Member Phylicia Porter confirmed to CNN that a body was found during the search for six missing construction workers who fell into the Patapsco River after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed. The person was identified as Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, The Mirror reports.

3. Joe Biden addresses nation after Baltimore bridge tragedy

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. The bridge collapsed after its support column was hit by a container ship overnight. According to reports, rescuers are still searching for multiple people, while two survivors have been pulled from the Patapsco River. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Joe Biden delivers remarks on the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 26, 2024, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden, speaking from the White House, announced the authorization of federal resources for the search and rescue efforts in Baltimore. He expressed gratitude for the swift action of rescuers and extended solidarity to the people of Baltimore, promising support for as long as needed. Biden described the bridge collapse as a "terrible incident and accident" and committed the federal government to fund the replacement of the 1970s-built bridge.

4. Dali experienced power issues moments before crash

The cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. According to reports, rescuers are still searching for multiple people, while two survivors have been pulled from the Patapsco River. A work crew was fixing potholes on the bridge, which is used by roughly 30,000 people each day, when the ship struck at around 1:30am on Tuesday morning. The accident has temporarily closed the Port of Baltimore, one of the largest and busiest on the East Coast of the U.S. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) — The cargo ship Dali experienced power issues before the crash (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

A Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News revealed that a harbor pilot and assistant aboard the cargo ship Dali reported power problems, triggering alarms and loss of momentum, as also seen in the footage captured of the horrifying incident. Maryland Governor Wes Moore disclosed that the Dali crew sent a distress call indicating power loss before the crash. The cause remains uncertain.

5. Cargo ship Dali faced issues in the past

According to records from the Electronic Quality Shipping Information System (Equasis), the Dali cargo ship, built in 2015 had some faults, the Daily Mail reports. The most recent was noted on June 27, 2023, during a port inspection in San Antonio, Chile, regarding propulsion and auxiliary machinery gauges and thermometers. In 2016, the ship was involved in an incident at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, where a fault in its structural conditions was found during a review that year. However, the US Coast Guard in New York found no malfunctions during its last inspection on September 9, 2023.

6. Restart timeline for Baltimore port after bridge collapse

Cranes stand over a cargo ship at the Port of Newark on March 26, 2024 as seen from Bayonne, New Jersey. Supply chains at ports up and down the East Coast are expected to be affected after a cargo ship hit and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The Port of Baltimore, which has the highest volume of auto imports in the U.S., is now temporarily closed.. Six workers who were on the bridge at the time of the impact are still missing. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) — The Baltimore Port is not expected to begin operations soon (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Baltimore, a key hub on the eastern seaboard, faces significant disruptions after the bridge collapse. With Baltimore offline, nearby ports like Philadelphia may see increased traffic. However, Philadelphia Port's limited capacity poses challenges. Experts predict a prolonged closure as debris from the Dali and the bridge hinders operations. It'll be a while before Baltimore's port reopens. The Baltimore bridge collapse has sparked nationwide concern and authorities are actively investigating the cause, focusing on the bridge's construction and integrity. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the inquiry.

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