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A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a large boat collided with it early Tuesday morning, and multiple vehicles fell into the water. Authorities were trying to rescue at least seven people.<\/p>\n
A large vessel crashed into the bridge, catching on fire before sinking and causing multiple vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,\u201d the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X.<\/p>\n
\nThe Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland which crosses the Patapsco River has reportedly Collapsed within the last few minutes after being Struck by a Large Container Ship; a Mass Casualty Incident has been Declared with over a Dozen Cars and many Individuals said to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/SsPMU8Mjph<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.<\/p>\n
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press around 3 a.m.<\/p>\n
He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting a vessel traveling outbound from Baltimore that had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse. Multiple vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,\u201d Cartwright said. He said it\u2019s too early to know how many people were affected but called the collapse a \u201cdeveloping mass casualty event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cartwright said it appears there are \u201csome cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,\u201d creating unsafe and unstable conditions, and that emergency responders are operating cautiously as a result.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a dire emergency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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