Baltimore bridge collapse: 6 presumed dead, Biden praises Indian crew’s prompt action

The Baltimore bridge collapse incident occurred when cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. The collision took place shortly after the ship departed the Port of Baltimore. (Reuters)

The ship, chartered by Maersk at the time, crashed into one of the 1.6-mile-long bridge's supports, resulting in the structure snapping and tumbling into the water. This tragic event unfolded at around 1:30 am, plunging an eight-member construction crew and multiple vehicles into the Patapsco river below. (Reuters)

Following the collision, two workers were rescued while search and rescue operations are on to locate the six missing workers, who are presumed dead. Of the two rescued workers, one was in serious condition and the other refused service. (Reuters)

The incident prompted Maryland Governor Wes Moore to declare a state of emergency, adding that no evidence suggested a terrorist attack. (Reuters)

The cargo ship Dali was carrying all 22 crew members who were Indian nationals. Following the bridge collapse, the company managing the vessel Synergy Marine Group, said the crew was accounted for and sustained no injuries. (Reuters)

The ship's crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span. The crew later received praise from US President Joe Biden over their "prompt action". (Reuters)

Biden said he plans to travel to Baltimore as soon as possible, adding that he expects lawmakers on Capitol Hill to support his bid to ensure the US government pays for rebuilding the bridge. He had earlier directed for the deployment of every federal resource towards the search and rescue operations. (Reuters)

The ship's movement was outbound from Baltimore to Colombo, where it was to reach on April 22. (Reuters)

The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977 and is among the world's longest truss bridges. It is named after the writer of US's national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” (Reuters)

The collapse is almost sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic. (Reuters)

The closure of the Port of Baltimore has disrupted the flow of goods, impacting automakers like General Motors and Ford, who are rerouting shipments to mitigate the effects of the incident. (Reuters)

Danish shipping company Maersk said its vessels will omit the Baltimore port for the foreseeable future due to the ship collision. (Reuters)