WATCH: Iconic Maryland Bridge Collapses After Cargo Vessel Steers Directly Into Bridge’s Support Column

Rescue efforts are under way after cargo vessel crashed into Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending vehicles into water
Watch the video. Looks deliberate. The ship steered straight into the bridge support.

It is said the bridge’s namesake, Francis Scott Key, is sat near the site of the bridge as he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, inspiring him to write the words of the “Star Spangled Banner.”

A major bridge in Baltimore in the US state of Maryland has snapped and collapsed after a container ship collided with it early on Tuesday, sending a number of vehicles into the water.

The Baltimore fire department said it was searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, after reports that a 948ft Singapore-flagged container ship leaving port on its way to Sri Lanka had crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It added that up to 20 people and several vehicles have fallen into the river and declared it a “mass casualty event”.

A video posted on X appeared to show the vessel striking one of the bridge’s central supports, causing much of the 2.6km bridge to give way as a number of vehicles fell into the Patapsco River below.

The ship appeared to catch fire as part of the bridge appeared to collapse over it, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the air.

Catch fire? Or set fire?

The White House and law enforcement immediately declared “no indication of terrorism” – isn’t it a little early to say such a thing? Sadly, trust in these agencies has been destroyed.

CNN: Video of the collision shows a towering boat headed directly toward one of the bridge’s support columns before colliding with it, sending a massive stretch of the bridge crashing into the water below in mere seconds. The impact immediately triggered the collapse of adjacent portions of the bridge.

The crash sent large plumes of smoke and fire into the air and part of the bridge appeared to collapse over the front of the boat, video footage showed. Dark smoke continued to rise into the air for several minutes.

#NEW Maryland Government has declared STATE OF EMERGENCY, after at least 20 people plunged into the water during Baltimore Bridge collapsepic.twitter.com/BaWLeQOaGz

— Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) March 26, 2024

#BREAKING: Morning Daylight reveals the aftermath of the mass casualty event of the Scott Key Bridge collapse

#Baltimore | #Maryland

Watch As morning daylight approaches, it reveals the devastating aftermath of an early morning incident after a large cargo ship from… pic.twitter.com/zzXBuUB5m0

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 26, 2024

UPDATE: Officials speaking on bridge collapse, no indication of terrorism

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by Megan Rodgers, March 26th 2024 at 7:01 AM

Baltimore City Fire Chief, James Wallace, said they received a call around 1:30 this morning, crews arrive around 1:50am, and reported a complete collapse of the bridge. They are working both in and out of the water to locate the 7 people still missing.