Major Bridge in Baltimore, U.S.A. Collapses
The bizarre occurrence was caused by a large vessel late on Tuesday night.
A serious error of judgment led to disaster in the U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland. At around 1:30 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, a large container ship collided with the city’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing part of the sea link to collapse within a few seconds. The cargo ship named Dali and bearing a Singapore flag was on its way to Colombo, Sri Lanka when the accident occurred.
According to Marine Traffic data, the ship’s lights began flickering as the vessel changed course on the Patapsco River and headed into a pillar of the bridge. Video recordings also revealed smoke billowing from the top of the ship. According to the authorities, there were working staff on the bridge at the time of its collapse. Search and Rescue operations commenced for as many as 7 missing persons.
The labourers were reportedly engaged in concrete deck repair when the calamity occurred. A few vehicles also plunged into the river due to the accident. The Maryland Transport Authority has set up a helpline for family members of those who are believed to have been affected by the collapse. The 1.6 mile long, four-lane bridge was established in 1977 and is a major thoroughfare in Baltimore. Investigations are underway to ascertain the reason for the collision. It appears the Dali crew has quite some explaining to do. And it will be insteresting to see if insurance will cover such a strange mishap.
