Authorities have suspended the search for six individuals missing after a cargo ship collided with a Baltimore bridge, resulting in its collapse and obstructing one of the busiest commercial harbors in the United States.
“Based on the length of time that we’ve gone in this 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,” said US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath during a press conference.
The incident occurred as a nighttime construction crew, repairing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, was struck by the ship shortly after midnight.
“We’re going away from the search and rescue portion to a recovery operation,” stated Roland Butler, Maryland’s secretary of state police.
Despite challenging conditions such as water temperature and currents impeding dive efforts, boats will continue patrolling overnight.
Video footage revealed the cargo ship slamming into a bridge support, leading the 1977-built steel structure to collapse.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore hailed the quick response by authorities in preventing further casualties, emphasizing that there was no indication of terrorism involvement.
President Joe Biden labeled the event a “terrible accident” and vowed to expedite port reopening and bridge reconstruction.
Amid the tragedy, details emerged regarding the crew’s attempts to prevent the collision after the ship lost power.
Federal investigators anticipate data from the vessel to be crucial in determining the sequence of events.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a vital link in the East Coast highway system, sees substantial daily traffic, impacting supply chains and maritime traffic.
As recovery efforts continue, authorities and local officials are grappling with the aftermath of what Mayor Brandon Scott described as an “unthinkable tragedy.”