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The first two bodies have been recovered from the Patapsco River after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, authorities said at a press conference on Wednesday. State officials announced they have suspended recovery operations citing safety concerns for divers and an inability to reach vehicles still trapped within the submerged remains of the structure.
The men have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26.
Eight men – all male construction workers employed repairing potholes on the bridge when the Dali container cargo ship collided with one of its supports and brought it down in the early hours of Tuesday morning – were unaccounted for in the aftermath of the disaster. Two were immediately rescued from the scene.
A rescue effort was called off on Tuesday night as Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said there was no hope of finding the men alive due to the frigid water and the length of time since the accident.
Her organisation switched to a recovery effort on Wednesday morning.
Officials say they do not know when the bridge or port will be reopened, sparking fears about the disruption to trade likely to result from the tragedy.
The busy Port of Baltimore employs 8,000 area residents, generating $2m a day in wages.
Baltimore mayor meets with Coast Guard, engineers, state police to begin salvage mission
Michelle Del Rey28 March 2024 16:30
US Department of Transportation says several ships stuck in Port of Baltimore
Several ships remain stuck in the Port of Baltimore, the US Department of Transportation has said. It’s not clear how long the vessels have been stuck or if there are people on board.
The Independent has reached out to the US Coast Guard. According to vessel tracking data, three bulk carriers, two general cargo ships, one vehicle carrier, one tanker, four Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force vessels and the container ship Dali were positioned behind the fallen bridge.
Beyond the bridge, one vehicle carrier, nine bulk carriers, one vehicle carrier and two general cargo vessels were at anchorage beyond the bridge as of 4pm on Wednesday.
Michelle Del Rey28 March 2024 16:15
Minneapolis Interstate 35W bridge, which collapsed in 2007, lights up in Maryland colours
In August 2007, the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, sending more than 100 vehicles and 18 construction workers into the Mississippi River, 115 feet below. Thirteen people lost their lives and more than 145 people were injured during afternoon rush hour.
In solidarity with the events this week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation light up the rebuilt bridge on Tuesday in red, black and yellow, the state colours of Maryland.
Michelle Del Rey28 March 2024 16:00
‘I would have been in the water’
Amelia Neath has more on the astonishing story of Moises Diaz, who, but for a simple twist of fate, might have been killed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 15:30
In pictures: NTSB inspectors on board stricken Dali cargo ship
Here are some freshly released images of the National Transportation Safety Board investigators aboard the Dali as they examine the circumstances that led to the crash.
(AP)
(AP)
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 15:00
‘Hard-working, humble men with spouses and children’: What we know about Baltimore bridge collapse victims
Here’s more on the victims of this week’s tragedy from Kelly Rissman and Amelia Neath.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 14:30
Experts break down possible cause of deadly crash
The jaw-dropping collapse of Baltimore’s well-trafficked Francis Scott Key Bridge resulted after a rare set of circumstances — but still highlights how shipping and structural changes could save lives in the future as industries modernise, writes Sheila Flynn.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 14:00
Watch: Baltimore Key Bridge crash investigators board cargo ship
Here’s another look at the moment yesterday when National Transportation Safety Board investigators boarded the stricken Dali cargo vessel as they sought to establish precisely what led to its smash with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Watch: Baltimore Key Bridge crash investigators board cargo ship
Investigators on Wednesday 27 March boarded the cargo ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse. Footage shows officers using drones to inspect the horror wreckage before stepping onto the vessel. It reportedly lost power before ramming into a bridge support, plunging the structure into the Patapsco River as it fell apart within seconds in the early hours of Tuesday. The ship’s pilot issued a mayday call shortly before the collision, allowing Maryland transportation officers to stop oncoming traffic onto the bridge. Divers on Wednesday recovered the bodies of two of six missing construction crew who were on the structure at the time.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 13:30
Baltimore Key Bridge ‘not made to withstand direct impact from vessel’
Here’s a look at what US transport secretary Pete Buttigieg had to say about the disaster at yesterday’s press conference.
Baltimore Bridge ‘not made to withstand direct impact’, says US transport secretary
The Francis Scott Key Bridge that collapsed in Baltimore was “simply not made to withstand a direct impact from a vessel that weighs about 200m pounds”, the US transport secretary has said. Pete Buttigieg made his comments during a news conference on Wednesday (27 March), after it was revealed two bodies had been pulled from the Patapsco river. The exact cause of the crash in the early hours of Tuesday, which has been described by authorities as a “ developing mass casualty incident,” is still unknown. At around 1.30am ET local time, the Singapore-flagged vessel Dali rammed into a column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, leading multiple parts of the 1.6 mile-long bridge to tumble into the water.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 13:00
Disturbing Baltimore bridge 911 ‘survivor’ call prank spreads on social media
A fake call to the emergency services claiming to be from a driver on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed is going viral on social media.
Here’s more from Catherine Shuttleworth for Indy100.
Joe Sommerlad28 March 2024 12:30
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