Alwaght- The 2.57 km long Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, has partially collapsed after a ship hit it, and as many as seven people may be in the water, Reuters cited officials on Tuesday.
A live video posted on YouTube showed a ship crashing into the bridge, after which major portions of the spans collapsed into the Patapsco River.
The Associated Press reported that multiple vehicles had fallen into the water.
"All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured," Maryland Transportation Authority said in a post on X.
"I'm aware of and en route to the incident at the Key Bridge... Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on X.
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, said Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department.
He said agencies had received 911 calls about 1.30am, reporting a vessel travelling outbound from Baltimore that 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.
“Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,” Cartwright said. He said it was too early to know how many people were affected but described the collapse as a “developing mass casualty event”.
The Key Bridge, which opened in 1977, is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The bridge is one of the Baltimore harbor’s three toll crossings.
