A container ship has collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore (USA) and the infrastructure has collapsed, inflicting a number of vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River.
The bridge was nearly 50 years outdated, as building started in 1972 and it lastly opened on March 23 1977 below the identify of Outer Harbor Crossing, later renamed the Francis Scott Key Bridge or Key Bridge.
Baltimore bridge collapses after being struck by cargo ship
It was the longest bridge in Baltimore, spanning 4 lanes, and served an estimated 11.5 million automobiles per 12 months.
Its design was characterised by a steady truss bridge within the type of a metal arch and was named after the author of the American nationwide anthem, Francis Scott Key, who was additionally a lawyer and an newbie poet.
Its building had an estimated funds of 110 million {dollars} and was financed by a 220 million greenback bond subject.
Two folks rescued
Two folks have been rescued from the river, one in all them in severe situation, in accordance with Baltimore hearth chief James Wallace.
Authorities “could also be on the lookout for greater than seven folks,” he stated, including that the quantity might range. It was not clear whether or not the 2 rescued have been included in these seven.
The vessel struck one of many piers of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in accordance with a video posted on X, previously Twitter. The ship caught hearth, producing a thick black smoke.
Followers of The Wire and its creator, David Simon, couldn’t assist however consider the collection once they noticed the long-lasting bridge and the photographs of the port of Baltimore, the placement on which the second season of what’s thought-about by many to be the most effective police collection within the historical past of tv is centred.
