MANAGERS of the container ship that smashed into a Maryland bridge have broken their silence on the tragedy that reportedly sent seven people plunging into the icy waters.
A frantic search is underway after the Singapore-flagged ship Dali turned Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to rubble in seconds.
At around 1:30 am Tuesday, the Dali cargo vessel crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, and caused it to collapseReuters
Streamtime LiveA horrific video showed the moment the ship smashed into the bridge[/caption]
EPAA Level 1 mass casualty has been declared and rescuers are searching the waters for seven people who are reportedly missing[/caption]
Jaw-dropping footage captured the bridge that hangs over Baltimore’s Patapsco River collapsing at about 1:30 am Tuesday.
Cars driving across the bridge were seen falling into the waters, and the rising sun later revealed the extent of the wreckage strewn across the cargo ship’s deck.
A Level 1 mass casualty event has been declared and two people have been rescued, according to Baltimore fire chief James Wallace.
One person refused treatment, while the other is in a serious condition and has been rushed to the hospital.
All crew members on the ship have been accounted for.
Managers of the ship revealed that they are still working to determine what happened in the moments leading to the crash, but it’s believed to have been an accident.
“Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the ‘Dali’ has now mobilized its Qualified Individual Incident response service,” the company revealed in a statement, per Agence France-Presse.
Before the crash, Dali captains warned that the ship had lost propulsion and sent an alert that there would be a crash, according to an unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report seen by ABC News.
“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and an allision with the bridge was possible,” the report stated.
“The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”
Marine tracking data and CCTV footage showed the ship lost its power for about 60 seconds before the crash.
In 2016, the Dali allided – a collision where only one object is moving – with berth at Port of Antwerp in Belgium, VesselFinder reported at the time.
That crash was due to a mistake by the Master and pilot on board and caused extensive damage, but no one was injured.
Horrified locals have begun to express their heartbreak at the tragedy.
Heaven Nito, a Baltimore resident who works as a motor vehicle operator at the Walter Reed Naval Base in nearby Bethesda, said she normally takes the bridge for her commute.
However, in a last-minute decision, she decided to take a different route.
“Learning of the bridge collapse, my heart sank with concern for potential casualties,” she said in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
“Having chosen an alternate route, I felt a profound sense of divine protection.”
On social media, Nito thanked her friends for checking up on her and said she believed God was with her Tuesday morning.
“Today marks a somber occasion for Baltimore as we mourn the loss of a cherished piece of our city’s history,” she said.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a cargo ship bound for Asia smashed into one of its support pillars. Here is what we know so far:
Search and rescue operations launched
At least seven people feared to have fallen into water
One rushed to the hospital in serious condition
Sonar technology found cars in the water
Baltimore mayor compares the scene to an action movie
Cops do not suspect any terror links
Cargo ship appears to have suffered power outages before the collision
White House on hand to offer federal assistance
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