Baltimore Key Bridge Collapses After Cargo Ship Hits

A rescue effort is underway after a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, causing it to collapse and send multiple vehicles into the Patapsco River.

A large vessel apparently hit one of the supports of the the bridge at around 1:30 a.m., causing it to snap apart in several places and fall into the river, according to a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The ship caught fire and thick smoke could be seen billowing out of it in the video.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said two people were pulled from the waters under the bridge, one in serious condition, The Associated Press reported.

Wallace said authorities "may be looking for upwards of seven people" but said that number could change.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told the AP that 911 calls came in at around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer, he said.

He said it remains too early to know how many people were affected by the collapse, but called it a "developing mass casualty event."

Newsweek has contacted the Baltimore Fire Department, the Baltimore Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard for further comment via email.

Synergy Marine Group, which manages the ship called the Dali, confirmed that the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control.

In a statement, it said all crew members, including the pilots, were accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. It added that the cause of the crash remains to be determined, but the owners and managers of the ship are "fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan."

The vessel was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder. The ship was flying under a Singapore flag, WTOP radio station reported.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed.

"We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety," Moore said in a statement. "We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local entities that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy."

The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977 and spans the Patapsco River. It was named for the author of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Update 3/26/24, 5:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.