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Baltimore Key Bridge collapse full coverage: 2 bodies recovered; remaining workers presumed dead as cleanup effort continues

Officials said they were transitioning to a cleanup operation to remove debris that is preventing divers from accessing the area where additional victims are believed to be..

The bodies of two people who were killed when Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed earlier this week have been recovered , police said on Wednesday.

Authorities said eight workers were on the bridge fixing potholes when a Singapore-flagged cargo ship called the Dali struck one of the bridge's pillars, causing it to collapse. In addition to the two bodies recovered, two of the workers were rescued, and four people remain missing and are presumed dead.

The Patapsco River is now filled with debris from the collapse. Huge barges carrying cranes were heading to the area to start clearing the wreckage of the 1.6-mile-long bridge.

There is no immediate timeline on when the bridge — which spans a major thoroughfare of East Coast shipping — could be rebuilt. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, President Biden has instructed his staff to "move heaven and earth" to rebuild the bridge.

Jennifer Homendy, the National Transportation Safety Board chair, said investigators on Thursday were planning to interview the two pilots who were aboard the Dali at the time of the crash.

Here’s what we know about the recovery effort

Julio Cervantes, one of eight construction workers who were plunged into the Patapsco River when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning, did not know how to swim, according to his wife.

Speaking Thursday at Camden Yards baseball park alongside the ownership group of the Baltimore Orioles, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called on citizens to lend a hand in helping with the arduous task of rebuilding the fallen bridge.

The Orioles kicked off the 2024 season on Thursday with a moment of silence to honor the victims of the bridge collapse.

The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, a native of Mexico, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Guatemala were recovered Wednesday, ABC News reported.

Family members of the men still missing but presumed dead have not given up hope.

Maryland officials asked the Biden administration Thursday for the “quick release” of an initial $60 million in emergency relief that would go toward recovery efforts.

Read more from Yahoo News .

Officers who stopped traffic to bridge before collapse honored at Orioles game

Three Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers who were responsible for stopping traffic onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge before it collapsed Tuesday morning were honored during the third inning of Thursday's Orioles game in Baltimore.

The officers were identified as Sergeant Paul Pastorek, Corporal Jeremy Herbert and Officer Garry Kirts.

In a joint statement , they said that "no amount of training could have prepared anyone for the events that took place on the Francis Scott Key Bridge."

Brawner worker told CNN he requested last-minute shift change on night of bridge collapse

A man employed by Brawner Builders, the employer of the workers who were victims of the bridge collapse, told CNN he requested a last-minute shift change the night of the accident.

Moises Diaz said the decision saved his life. He also told CNN via text that he had worked with all six of the men who were victims. The bodies of two of the men were recovered on Wednesday.

Brawner Builders Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pritzker had told CNN, “These were wonderful young men. They were doing a tough job. These guys were hardworking, wonderful people, and now they’re gone."

Baltimore bridge collapse calls attention to growing Latino labor force, risks they face

Most of the six construction workers who were killed or presumed dead following Tuesday's bridge collapse were originally from Latin American countries, calling attention to the growing Latino labor force in the U.S. and the risks they face.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor considers construction “a high hazard industry,” in which workers face serious risks like being hit by heavy construction equipment or being hurt or killed by unguarded machinery.

Latinos make up about a third of the U.S.'s construction workers , meaning they are more exposed to these dangers.

NBC News reports:

With 1,056 fatalities, workers in the construction and extraction industries had the second most fatalities in 2022, followed by transportation and material moving workers, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released in December.

At least 423 of these workers died due to falls, slips or trips, according to BLS.

The majority of these deaths, at least 286, happened among Hispanic workers.

Read more from NBC News .

People try to get a glimpse of the Dali cargo ship

People are trying to view the Dali cargo ship wreckage on Thursday, two days after it crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Dali cargo ship that hit the Key Bridge was pretty big, but not that big

The Dali cargo ship that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, leading to its collapse, was about the length and width of three football fields. It can carry nearly 10,000 containers of cargo, weighing up to 116,000 tons.

Pretty massive, right? In comparison to other ships, it's actually not that big.

The largest container ships can hold twice the number of containers carried by the Dali, the New York Times reports .

As global demand has grown for clothes, electronics and other goods, so have the size of cargo ships. The more a ship can hold, the more cost-effective the trip becomes.

As container ships have increased in size, ports, including Baltimore's, have had to adapt by expanding infrastructure to accommodate them, according to the Times.

Baltimore Orioles hold moment of silence for victims on Opening Day

The Baltimore Orioles kicked off the 2024 Major League Baseball season with a moment of silence to honor of the victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Elizabeth Worthington, a reporter for WMAR-2 News Baltimore, posted this video on X of Camden Yards on Opening Day Thursday:

A moment of silence for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse victims at Camden Yards. The announcer noted - we're taking this moment before the performance of the Star-Spangled Banner, whose author the bridge was named after. @WMAR2News pic.twitter.com/Sgw5Lvu9Dp — Elizabeth Worthington (@ElizWorthNews) March 28, 2024

Bridge collapse disrupts automobile shipments at Port of Baltimore

Manufacturers and shippers have been scrambling after the bridge collapse disrupted shipping at the Port of Baltimore. The port, which handles the largest amount of vehicles in the U.S., has suspended ship traffic "until further notice."

The state of Maryland reported that in 2023, the port moved 847,158 automobiles. Baltimore can still handle some automobile shipments because part of its operations are in a different area, east of where the bridge collapsed.

Autoblog reports :

Both General Motors and Ford planned to reroute impacted shipments away from Baltimore's port

Volkswagen Group of America said its operations have not been impacted because its facility is located east of the bridge collapse

BMW said its operations shouldn't be impacted because they also have operations east of the bridge

Mercedes-Benz said it's too early to tell if operations will be impacted

In Baltimore, the youngest mayor faces his city's moment of tragedy and of triumph

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott became the youngest mayor in the city's history at 36 years old when he won the race in November 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His phone rang in the middle of the night on Tuesday to the news that a massive container ship lost control, causing the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

USA Today reports:

Nobody knew, in those first predawn moments, how many people might have been killed, or what would happen next.

“This is a tragedy that you could never imagine,” Scott said Tuesday, during a news conference. “Never would you think that you would see — physically see — the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie.”

Reporters immediately wanted to know about the future, about the rebuilding of the bridge. Scott wanted to remain rooted in the present. He was emotional.

“We shouldn't even be having that discussion right now,” he said. “The discussion right now should be about the people, the souls, the lives that we're trying to save.”

“There will be a time to discuss a bridge and how we get a bridge back up,” Scott said. “But right now there are people in the water that we have to get out, and that is the only thing we should be talking about.”

Read more from USA Today .

8 construction workers were taking a break from fixing potholes when bridge collapsed, one wife says

The wife of one of the eight people who were fixing potholes on the Key Bridge on Tuesday said the workers were taking a break when the bridge came crashing down.

“All of the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit. We don't know if they were warned before the impact,” the wife of Julio Cervantes, a construction worker, told NBC News .

Cervantes was one of the two people rescued on Tuesday. His wife said he didn't know how to swim.

“It is a miracle he survived,” she added.

Read more from NBC News here .

Maryland requests $60 million from Biden administration for bridge collapse relief

Maryland officials have asked for a “quick release” of $60 million from the Biden administration for an initial emergency relief request.

The Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority made the request on Thursday following the collapse of the Key Bridge — an essential bridge used by tens of thousands of drivers each day — on Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld wrote in a letter : “We are performing damage assessments throughout the area.

“Currently, it is not possible to provide exact cost estimates for the full assessment; however, our current estimate for mobilization, operators, and debris recovery is $60 million,” he said, noting that the agencies would “provide a second need estimate as early as reasonably possible.”

President Biden has said he wants the federal government to pay to rebuild the bridge.

“We’re going to work with our partners in Congress to make sure the state gets the support it needs,” he said Tuesday. “It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort.”

New NTSB footage shows vessel intertwined with bridge wreckage

National Transportation Safety Board investigators boarded the Dali cargo ship on Wednesday and released footage of the vessel after its deadly crash into the Key Bridge earlier this week.

Video shows the NTSB team using drones to survey the wreckage from the ship. The drone shots show the aftermath of the Singapore-flagged vessel's collision with the 1.6-mile-long bridge.

Watch the video here:

Families of bridge collapse victims speak out: 'Tremendous agony'

Four people remain missing after Tuesday's bridge collapse. Among those is 40-year-old Miguel Luna, a father of three who came to the U.S. from El Salvador 19 years ago in hopes of a better life.

"He's supposed to come in the morning back home, and [he] never come," Gustavo Torres, the executive director of CASA, a nonprofit human rights organization that advocates for immigrant communities, told CBS News .

Another missing person who was working on the bridge was Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, a father to a teenage son and a 5-year-old daughter. The Honduran citizen was days away from turning 35 years old.

Sandoval's eldest brother told CBS News that their family is in "tremendous agony."

One day after the tragic bridge collapse, Maryland authorities identified two of the six victims who were unaccounted for following the accident as 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, originally from Mexico, and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, from Guatemala. Divers discovered their bodies in a pickup truck submerged in the Patapsco River.

Baltimore residents 'stand ready to help' after bridge collapse

Eight construction workers were on the bridge when it collapsed into the Patapsco River on Tuesday. Two of the workers were rescued. Police said Wednesday that they had discovered the bodies of two of the six people presumed dead.

Spiritual leaders all over Baltimore have offered their support to the families impacted by the accident, and residents have donated thousands of dollars in a show of support and solidarity.

Ako Walker, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, told USA Today , “These families need a lot, a lot of support on all levels — spiritual, physical and emotional.”

Ever since the tragedy began to unfold, Walker said he’s been looking for ways to help the families who have been impacted and the community. “One of the things you unfortunately have to think about when the bodies are recovered are the funerals,” he said. “We stand ready to help.”

Read more from USA Today.

Barges now head to Baltimore to clear bridge wreckage

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday night that huge barges carrying cranes were heading to the Baltimore area to start clearing the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Patapsco River.

When the 1.6-mile-long bridge — which saw around 30,000 vehicles cross it daily — collapsed on Tuesday, it sent steel wreckage down into the river below. That wreckage created an obstacle for divers searching for victims.

The wreckage also blocks cargo and other ships from accessing the Port of Baltimore, which is closed to vessel traffic "until further notice."

Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of Maryland State Police, said during a news conference on Wednesday: “We’re now moving from a recovery mode to a salvage operation. Because of the superstructure surrounding what we believe are the vehicles and the amount of concrete and debris, divers are no longer able to safely navigate or operate around that.”

Moment of silence held for bridge collapse victims at Orioles event

Rob Long, a broadcaster with the Baltimore Orioles, held a moment of silence during an event on Thursday, which is Major League Baseball's opening day.

“We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the tragedy that took place at the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday morning. Our hearts go out to the victims and to their families.

“While we mourn their losses, we have immense gratitude for our leaders, including Gov. Wes Moore, who's here today, and the many first responders who continue to risk their lives in hopes of returning more people home. Anyone here today knows ... that Baltimoreans are strong and we are resilient, and together we will get through this. Can you please join me right now in a moment of silence.”

Maryland governor calls on Baltimoreans to 'do their part' in rebuilding bridge, city

Speaking at an event with the Baltimore Orioles ownership group at Camden Yards on Thursday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke about the bridge’s collapse:

“I’m calling on everybody to do their part. In this game, nobody gets to sit on the sidelines. We need every single Baltimorean and we need every single Marylander to join us in this work to rebuild this bridge and rebuild this city.

“And that work is happening as we speak. The best minds in the world are coming together to collect the information that we need to move forward with speed and safety in our response to this collapse. Government is working hand in hand with industry to investigate the area, to clear the wreck and to move the ship. Leaders from across local and state and federal levels are gathering funds to rebuild this bridge.

“This work is not going to take hours. This work is not going to take days. This work is not going to take weeks. We have a very long road ahead of us.”

The Baltimore bridge collapse has raised questions about key safety features. Experts say better ones may not have helped.

Following Tuesday's bridge collapse, some say protective structures could have helped shield it. But others are saying that's unrealistic given the impact of the massive cargo ship.

Business Insider reports :

Key Bridge, built in 1977, was finished before the reform [a federal memo from 1983 recommending that bridges be built with protective structures] was published. Still, footage suggests it had some protection in place.

Small dolphins [protective structures] were placed about 320 feet upstream and downstream of the piers, Colin Caprani, associate professor of civil engineering, said in a post in The Conversation.

The bridge also had concrete "fenders," timber and concrete structures placed around the piers, Caprani added.

In 1980, a container ship called the Blue Nagoya ran into the bridge at a speed of 12 knots. One fender was damaged badly enough that it had to be replaced.

Still, faced with a ship of the size of the Dali, they would likely not have been fit for purpose, Mimi Gao, a naval architect with the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration, told Business Insider.

Read more from BI .

Somber scenes in Baltimore

Tuesday's bridge collapse has left members of Baltimore's community reeling. Eight workers were on the bridge when it crumbled into the Patapsco River. Two bodies have since been recovered, while the other four workers are presumed dead.

During a vigil this week at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Dundalk, pastor Rashad Singletary said, "We want to be able to provide support."

"Not just for today and a couple of weeks, but after the cameras are gone, after the services are gone. We need to not only build a bridge, but to build this community."

'The 5 Minutes That Brought Down the Key Bridge'

The New York Times has a powerful report on the last moments before the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed:

In those minutes, many people — from the ship’s crew, who sent out a mayday signal, to the transportation authority police officers, who stopped traffic heading onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge — did what they could to avert catastrophe, most likely saving many lives.

And yet — no matter what anyone did — several factors made catastrophe all but inevitable.

Click here to read the full story .

Bridge collapse could cost insurers billions of dollars, analysts say

The bridge collapse in Baltimore this week could cost insurers billions of dollars, according to analysts.

Reuters reports:

With little clarity on when the Port of Baltimore would re-open, insurers and analysts are now assessing the likely losses borne by underwriters across several product lines including property, cargo, marine, liability, trade credit and contingent business interruption.

"Depending on the length of the blockage and the nature of the business interruption coverage for the Port of Baltimore, insured losses could total between $2 billion and $4 billion," said Marcos Alvarez, managing director for global insurance ratings at Morningstar DBRS. That would surpass the record insured losses of the Costa Concordia luxury cruise liner disaster in 2012, he said.

Mathilde Jakobsen, senior director, analytics at insurance ratings agency AM Best, also said the claims would likely run into "billions of dollars."

Bridge collapse seen from space

Maxar Technologies captured satellite images of the Dali cargo ship after it crashed into a pillar of the Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Some hazmat containers were 'breached' in bridge collapse

At a news conference Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the cargo ship was carrying 764 tons of hazardous materials including corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries in 56 containers, and that some of the containers were "breached," causing a sheen to be seen on the water.

Homendy said that federal, state and local authorities were aware of the sheen and were in charge of any necessary cleanup.

At a White House press briefing earlier in the day, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier said there is no threat to the public from the shipping containers that were damaged in the collapse.

Baltimore Orioles to hold moment of silence before home opener

It's opening day for Major League Baseball , and across the harbor from the collapsed bridge, the Baltimore Orioles will open their season in Camden Yards against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon.

The team announced it will hold a moment of silence for the dead and missing bridge workers and honor the "brave first responders who immediately stepped into action."

First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET.

Brothers of missing construction worker still clinging to hope

The brother of Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval — one of the construction workers who are now presumed dead after the bridge collapse — told CNN on Wednesday that he is praying for a "miracle."

"We still have faith until this moment, God grant the miracle, it would be beautiful," Martin Suazo, one of Maynor's seven siblings, said. "We still have hope, I know that time is our worst enemy."

Another brother, Carlos Suazo, told the Associated Press that the 38-year-old had been working in the United States for 18 years but "always dreamed of, in his old age, retiring peacefully in Honduras."

Per CNN, the family's priority is to recover his body before "telling their 72-year-old mother back in Honduras the painful news."

'This Will Take Time'

That's the headline on the front page of today's Baltimore Sun, which reports that the effort to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from two to 15 years.

What we know about the crash so far

Police divers recovered the bodies of two victims from Tuesday’s bridge collapse.

The two construction workers were found in 25 feet of water, trapped inside their pickup truck.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said there was no credible evidence that terrorism was involved in the incident.

The construction workers who died, as well as the others who are still missing and presumed dead, came to work in the U.S. from Mexico and other Central American countries.

Some of the eight workers on the bridge at the time of the accident were employed by the Maryland company Brawner Builders.

Debris from the bridge impeded divers from continuing their search for victims on Wednesday

President Biden instructed his staff to “move heaven and earth” to rebuild the bridge, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigie indicated the effort could take time. “Rebuilding will not be quick or easy or cheap,” he said. “ut we will get it done.”

Maryland lawmakers are working on legislation to provide emergency assistance to port workers whose jobs will be impacted by the loss of the bridge.

Grace Ocean Private, the owner of the Dali, could face a record payout from the disaster.

The NTSB said 56 containers of hazardous material were on the ship when it ran into the bridge. “Some of the containers were breached,” NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.

NTSB to interview Dali's pilots Thursday

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, said agency investigators are scheduled to conduct interviews Thursday with the two pilots who were aboard the Dali at the time of the crash.

Homendy: 'This bridge was in satisfactory condition'

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said Wednesday that the Key Bridge was in "satisfactory condition" prior to the crash that caused it to collapse on Tuesday. She said the bridge's last fracture critical inspection was conducted in May 2023.

NTSB provides update on investigation of bridge collapse

At a press briefing Wednesday evening, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, provided an update on the agency's investigation of the ship crash that caused the Key Bridge to collapse Tuesday morning. Homendy said investigators have confirmed that there were 21 crew members and two pilots aboard the vessel at the time of the accident.

Homendy said that the ship was carrying 56 containers of hazardous materials, mostly corrosives, flammables and lithium ion batteries. “Some of the containers were breached,” she said, adding that authorities had been notified.

What the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse means for shipping companies

Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen joined Yahoo Finance Live on Wednesday to talk about the potential ramifications for shipping companies now that the port is closed.

Yahoo Finance reports:

Petersen highlights that shipping companies are "working overtime ... to figure out what to do." He explains that the ship collision will inevitably lead to delays in cargo shipments, drawing parallels to the Suez Canal where cargo remained in "litigation limbo" for over a year. Petersen emphasizes that new routes will need to be determined and "extra coordination" will be required to facilitate the transition of cargo transport from sea to land, describing the situation as "a scramble" to deliver customers' cargo.

While Petersen estimates that rebuilding the bridge itself could take "several years," he expresses optimism that the restoration of the shipping channel might be a more manageable task, potentially taking "a matter of weeks or months." However, he calls this an "adaptive" situation, with most cargo likely to be rerouted to the West Coast and price increases likely to occur.

Read more from Yahoo Finance's Brad Smith and Angel Smith .

Maryland police: 'Divers recovered 2 victims' at scene of bridge collapse

At Wednesday evening's press conference in Baltimore, Col. Roland Butler Jr. of the Maryland State Police said that two bodies had been recovered at the site of Tuesday night's collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Butler said dive teams "made a tragic finding" shortly before 10 a.m., spotting a red pickup truck in 25 feet of water.

"Divers recovered two victims of this tragedy trapped within the vehicle," Butler said.

Butler identified them as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Mexico, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Guatemala, and said that their families had been notified.

The Baltimore Banner was the first to report that the bodies of two people had been recovered at the scene.

Moore calls collapse of Key Bridge a 'global crisis'

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at a Wednesday evening news conference that efforts to find survivors from Tuesday's collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge had ended.

"Today, we transitioned from search and rescue to recovery," Moore said.

Moore said the impact of the collapse would be profound.

"The collapse of the Key Bridge is not just a Maryland crisis," Moore said. "The collapse of the Key Bridge is a global crisis."

Just how big was the ship that struck the Key Bridge?

This graphic from the Associated Press offers a stark visualization of the size of the ship that hit the Key Bridge on Tuesday, causing it to collapse.

'Maryland tough. Baltimore strong'

Maryland is still under a state of emergency a day after the bridge collapse as the state works "to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration."

On Wednesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore visited the site of the crash on a Coast Guard ship to assess the damage, according to CNN.

"This is part of the Governor’s efforts to continue the strong working relationship with the Coast Guard along with our federal partners, thank first responders working on the scene, and to learn more about the events that took place,” the spokesperson added.

The state flag was also lowered to half-staff to honor the victims of the bridge collapse.

On Wednesday, Moore posted a clip on X where he addressed Marylanders directly during a Tuesday press conference.

"But Maryland, we will get through this. Because that is the Maryland spirit and that's what Maryland is made of. We are Maryland tough and we are Baltimore strong."

He also tweeted pictures of downtown Baltimore billboards displaying the same message, "Maryland tough. Baltimore strong."

Moore is slated to speak at another press conference at 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

We will get through this because we are Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong. pic.twitter.com/CMLm1XexSd — Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) March 27, 2024

Here's how to help the families of the 6 victims presumed dead after the bridge collapse

A GoFundMe has been started to help raise money for the families of the six victims who are presumed dead, as search and rescue efforts turned to recovery efforts Wednesday following Tuesday's bridge collapse.

The Latino Racial Justice Circle, a nonprofit organization promoting community development through immigrant integration, started the GoFundMe to raise a total of $60,000 — or $10,000 per family, as reported by WUSA9 . As of late Wednesday afternoon, that goal was surpassed by over $15,000.

Jack Murphy is the owner of Brawner Builders, the company that employed the six men who are unaccounted for. The New York Times reported that he shared the link to the fundraiser, saying, "Unfortunately, this tragic event was completely unforeseen and was not something that we could imagine would happen."

3 Mexicans were working on the bridge when it collapsed, Mexico says; 2 are among the presumed dead

Three of the eight workers fixing the Key Bridge before the collapse are Mexican, officials said on Wednesday. Two of the workers are presumed dead.

"After the unfortunate accident, the Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy in the United States managed to establish that, of the eight workers, three are of Mexican nationality," Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement , according to a translation.

"One of them, originally from Michoacán, was rescued alive and is recovering satisfactorily from his injuries. The other two, originally from Veracruz and Michoacán, remain missing."

The Mexican government also confirmed that Rafael Laveaga Rendón, the country's regional consul, traveled to Baltimore to support the workers' families.

How long could it take to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge?

Rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge could take as little as two years — or it could take as many as 15 years, according to the Baltimore Sun .

Benjamin Schafer, a structural engineer who specializes in steel structures and is an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, told the Sun that in order to rebuild the bridge, funding needs to be secured, a visual design needs to be decided on, materials need to be selected and engineering questions need to be worked out. Clearing the debris in the river will also be an obstacle in and of itself.

“As much as this is a tragedy, and as much as we’re all going to be terribly inconvenienced, it’s people’s lives and jobs in Baltimore if that port stays closed for very long,” Schafer said.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg restated during a Wednesday White House press briefing that the rebuilding process will be complex and potentially expensive. “Rebuilding will not be quick or easy or cheap, but we will get it done,” he said.

NTSB to hold media briefing at 8 p.m. ET

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy will brief the media at 8 p.m. ET.

Earlier Wednesday, Homendy said the NTSB recovered the data recorder — otherwise known as the "black box" — from the Dali cargo vessel.

A team of investigators boarded the ship on Tuesday night to gather evidence for their investigation, she said.

The NTSB is building a timeline of events that led up to the crash on Tuesday, which caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse.

10 ships are stuck in Port of Baltimore, officials say

Ten ships are stuck in the Port of Baltimore behind the collapsed bridge, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The vessels include three bulk carriers, three naval vessels, two cargo ships, one vehicle carrier and one oil/chemical tanker.

Additionally, 12 ships have dropped anchor, and one vehicle carrier is in the port "but outside the bridge."

On Tuesday, Port of Baltimore authorities announced that vessel traffic in and out of the port was suspended indefinitely. But the port remains open for trucks to be processed in the marine terminal.

"To look at a skyline that doesn't even look familiar — that Key Bridge has been there ever since I'd been born. And so this is surreal, looking up and not seeing it there anymore."

— Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on ABC's Good Morning America

3 ships have hit bridges in different countries in the past 3 months. Should we be worried?

Despite modern regulations and design codes in place, experts say there's a long way to go to improve bridges that were made for smaller ships in a different era.

CNN reports:

A deadly bridge collapse in Baltimore. A bridge in southern China sliced in half. Parts of a bridge cutting through the hull of a massive ship in Argentina.

These events all happened within the first three months of this year — and all after collisions with large commercial ships.

These incidents, and the toll — with at least five killed in China, and six still missing in Baltimore — have highlighted what experts say is the urgent need to improve or protect old bridges to accommodate larger modern vessels.

Read more from CNN here .

Could fenders have prevented the bridge collapse?

When it comes to bridge engineering, protective barriers can help redirect or prevent a ship from crashing into the bridge's supports. The New York Times reports that the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed on Tuesday, did not appear to have an "obvious fender system."

Some engineers told the Times that the collapse might have been prevented if it had more effective barriers in place. This could be anything from pyramids of rocks to padded concrete rings surrounding the supports.

Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau to probe crash

The Transportation Safety Investigation Bureau in Singapore will conduct its own investigation into the crash that took place in Baltimore on Tuesday, officials in the Southeast Asian country announced on Wednesday .

The Dali cargo ship that crashed into the Key Bridge was a Singapore-flagged vessel.

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore authorities said they're "deeply saddened" by the crash, and will support U.S. investigators with their probes.

The agency said its goal is not to determine who is liable, but to understand what happened in order to prevent future disasters.

State Department says it will reach out to countries affected by bridge collapse

The State Department on Wednesday said it planned to reach out to the countries whose citizens were affected by the bridge collapse.

"The Office of Foreign Missions is generally continuing to monitor the situation, and will reach out directly to any foreign missions should we receive information about their citizens being affected," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing, as reported by CNN.

Two of the missing workers are from Mexico, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has confirmed. The others are reported to be from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

The Coast Guard's top priority now is 'restoring the waterway for shipping'

With the search operation having shifted from rescue to recovery, the U.S. Coast Guard has pivoted its focus to help get the port up and running again.

"The Coast Guard's highest priority now is restoring the waterway for shipping, stabilizing the motor vessel Dali and removing it from the site and coordinating a maritime casualty investigation," Vice Admiral Peter Gautier said during Wednesday's White House press briefing.

Under the weight of debris from the collapsed bridge, the bow of the ship is sitting on the bottom of the river, Gautier said, adding that there is no threat to the public from the shipping containers that were damaged in the collapse.

Gautier also said that despite the bridge disaster, maritime shipping is "an incredibly safe mode of transportation, not just here in the United States but worldwide."

Biden wants bridge rebuilt 'as soon as humanly possible'

At her daily briefing Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was joined by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier, who she said had just come from a meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office.

"After he was briefed on the collapse, President Biden immediately instructed his team to move heaven and earth to aid in the emergency response and help rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible," Jean-Pierre said.

Brother of missing worker holding out for a miracle: 'We still have hope'

The family of 38-year-old Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, one of the bridge workers presumed to be dead, told CNN en Español on Wednesday that they are praying for a miracle that the husband and father will be found alive.

“We still have faith until this moment, God grant the miracle, it would be beautiful,” Sandoval's brother, Carlos Suazo Sandoval told CNN en Español.

“We still have hope, I know that time is our worst enemy,” Sandoval's brother said. He added that the family has not told their mother, who lives in Honduras, about the accident.

Maynor Sandoval, who is also reportedly from Honduras, had been living in the U.S. for 18 years and was known as a "kind and joyful person" with dreams for the future, according to his brother.

“He always wanted to have his own businesses. He always said his elderly years would be in Honduras,” Sandoval's brother said.

On Wednesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in an X post that he had "spoken to the families, prayed with them, and assured them that our state will mobilize every resource to bring them closure."

Dali cargo ship crew reportedly 'doing good aboard the vessel'

As of Wednesday morning, crew members aboard the Dali cargo ship that crashed into the Key Bridge on Tuesday were "doing good aboard the vessel," according to Andrew Middleton, director of a Baltimore ministry that helps mariners and who has been in touch with the crew. The Washington Post reported that Middleton was waiting to hear if there was Wi-Fi connection on the ship so crew members could reach their families to let them know they are OK.

Middleton explained that it is common for crews such as the Dali's to ask for assistance from the Apostleship of the Sea Baltimore Stella Maris International Seafarers' Center. On the Sunday before the accident, he had taken the ship's captain and a crew member shopping for toiletries and snacks before their planned 28-day journey around the Horn of Africa to Sri Lanka, USA Today reported .

When Middleton learned of Tuesday's accident, he frantically messaged the crew members to see if they were hurt. "Is everyone ok?" Middleton messaged. The response was "yes sir, everyone is safe," Middleton told USA Today.

Middleton expects that the Dali will be towed back into the harbor for a damage assessment.

Unfounded conspiracy theories blame collapse on cyberattacks, immigration

Following news of the bridge collapse, social media users began floating unfounded conspiracy theories — blaming the crash on immigration and cyberattacks, among other things — that several media personalities promoted on their various platforms.

On Fox Business, anchor Maria Bartiromo falsely suggested that the “wide-open border” could have something to do with the collision, a clip of which circulated on X. No link to immigration has been made by officials.

A spokesperson for Fox did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Controversial influencer Andrew Tate shared a conspiracy theory that falsely suggested the ship had been “cyber-attacked,” citing that in the video of the collision, the ship’s lights appear to turn off just before impact.

In a video leading up to and of the incident, around 1:24 a.m. EDT, the ship’s lights turn off for a minute but then flicker back on. About 10 seconds later, smoke is seen coming from the ship’s chimney. At 1:26 a.m., the ship appears to turn and moments later loses its lights again. They come back on half a minute later.

A spokesperson for Tate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alex Jones responded to Tate, writing in a post : “Looks deliberate to me.”

Michael Flynn, who was national security adviser to former President Donald Trump, appeared to suggest it was not an accident in a post on X .

Read more on NBC News.

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Bridge collapse live updates: No timeline on wreckage removal yet, Buttigieg says

The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Latest headlines:

2,600 carnival cruise passengers rerouted from baltimore arrive in virginia, 200-ton piece of collapsed key bridge removed, still no timeline on when baltimore port will reopen: buttigieg.

• 1st portions of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge will be lifted Saturday
• 3 crane barges from US Navy arrive in Baltimore, 4th coming next week
• Freight nearly size of Eiffel Tower, shipping containers 'ripped in half as if they were papier-maché'

What to know about the collapse

The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge , officials in Maryland said.

A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

The crash appeared to be accidental , not intentional, officials said.

Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

The first of multiple Carnival cruise ships rerouted from Baltimore due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge arrived at a port in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday

About 2,600 guests aboard the Carnival Legend returned from a cruise to the Bahamas, getting off the ship in Norfolk. The passengers boarded 70 buses and were driven four hours back to Baltimore, where many left their cars parked.

"When we left Baltimore, we had to go under that bridge," passenger Viktoriia Aldred told ABC affiliate station WVEC in Norfolk. "The bridge looked amazing and you go under the bridge and you're like 'wow.'"

Baltimore native Michael Lukoski told WVEC he heard the news of the bridge collapse while on the cruise to the Bahamas.

"When I got the news Tuesday morning … you couldn’t believe it," said Lukoski. adding that when he first heard of the bridge collapse "it was like, 'no way.'"

A 200-ton piece of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was removed Sunday from the vast debris field of twisted metal and concrete clogging entry to the Port of Baltimore, officials said.

Tons more wreckage as well as the crippled container ship Dali that crashed into the span and collapsed it still needs to be cleared, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told ABC News Sunday.

"We're talking about huge pieces," Moore said of the debris crews are cutting up and preparing to remove from the waterway. "I mean, just sitting on the Dali, you're looking at 3,000 or 4,000 tons of steel sitting on top of the ship."

The operation to clean up the disaster site and reopen the channel began on Saturday and continued throughout Sunday, officials said.

Moore told ABC News a timeline hasn't been set on when the channel will be reopened, echoing a statement from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Additionally, crews conducted a “grounding survey” on Sunday to “determine how hard the ground around the Dali is to inform the strategy for pulling it off," officials told ABC News.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday there is still no timeline for when the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and the crippled container ship Dali will be removed so the Port of Baltimore can reopen.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Buttigieg said the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy are bringing in a 1,000-ton crane and a 600-ton crane to clear the twisted debris from the channel.

Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Key Bridge recovery

"They have not wanted to speculate yet on a timeline because the operation is so complex," Buttigieg said. "It's not that you just have to remove the wreckage, it's that you have to do it in a way that doesn't cause portions of the bridge that are there across the water to shift. They've been under a lot of compression, tension; they could behave almost like a spring if they are not expertly managed."

In addition to removing the debris, Buttigieg said the 248 million-pound shipping vessel still poses a problem, saying, "Measures are being taken to stop the ship from swinging into the channel."

The secretary said part of the $60 million in federal funding released for the cleanup and recovery efforts will also go to the "acquisition, procurement and preparation for the new bridge."

He said that while other East Coast ports have been absorbing container traffic, the Port of Baltimore is uniquely designed to handle the bulk of automobiles shipped to the United States.

"So as soon as it can safely be reopened, that, of course, is a major priority that really affects our entire national supply system," Buttigieg said.

Highly trained crews on site to begin removal of collapsed bridge

Highly trained demolition crews will begin cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane. One crane barge and one working barge are staged at the incident to support Saturday’s operations.

Salvage teams will use gas-powered cutters to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. At the same time, salvage divers continue to conduct underwater assessments of the work site to support further operations. Every lifting operation requires engineering analysis to inform salvage operation plans.

The Unified Command is working in partnership with Baltimore Gas and Electric to reduce pressure of an underwater pipeline that spans the width of the channel and runs under the incident site. Unified Command is coordinating to inert the pipeline to free it from hazards and risk. Pipeline operations will continue through the weekend.

The Unified Command continues to maintain a 2000-yard maritime Safety Zone for the recovery efforts and a Temporary Flight Restriction with a radius of three nautical miles from the surface -- up to and including 1,500 feet above ground level -- also remains in effect.

The Safety Zone is enforced for the protection of personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards associated with salvage work. The vessel remains stable with crew aboard.

-ABC News' Sam Sweeney

Top Stories

Baltimore bridge collapse latest: Six missing workers 'presumed dead'; satellite images reveal scale of bridge damage

Officials say they are transitioning from a search and rescue mission to a recovery operation "based on the length of time" and the "temperature of the water".

Wednesday 27 March 2024 00:36, UK

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• Major bridge collapses in Baltimore after being struck by a cargo ship
• Six people still missing as two pulled from water
• Company says six workers are presumed dead
• Ship issued mayday before crash | Vessel appeared to lose power and start smoking
• Video of collapse | Satellite images reveal scale of damage
• Dali vessel involved in separate incident in 2016
• What is this bridge?
• Listen:  Expert view on the Baltimore bridge collapse

Thank you for following along. 

You can scroll down to catch up on the latest updates as happened during the day.

We'll be back with more news tomorrow. 

Officials say they are transitioning from search and rescue operation to a recovery operation.

US Coast Guard and Maryland State Police officials say that based on the frigid temperature of the water and the length of time that had elapsed since the bridge came down there was little if any chance that the six missing could be found alive.

Maryland's senator has praised the work of first responders, saying their heroism is a "ray of light on this dark day". 

Emergency workers managed to stop traffic along the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the Dali container ship put out a mayday call.

Chris Van Hollen said their actions "saved lives" and he was "thankful for them". 

A team of construction workers were repairing potholes along the bridge at the time it collapsed. 

Eight people were initially reported missing, but two people were found, with one suffering serious injuries. 

A short while ago, we heard from the executive vice president of construction company Brawner Builders, who confirmed the six workers still unaccounted for are presumed dead.

Six workers missing after the Baltimore bridge collapsed are presumed dead, the executive vice president of Brawner Builders has confirmed. 

Jeffrey Pritzker told our US partner site NBC News that there was one survivor. 

The company is not releasing names at this time.

Eight people, who were working on the bridge at the time it was struck by the Dali cargo ship, were initially reported missing. 

Two of them were found, with one suffering serious injuries. 

The other six have been missing for more than 12 hours. 

Maryland's emergency management department has raised its state activation level. 

It is now registered as 'full' - meaning an incident has occurred that may require significant resources. 

As a result, the state's emergency operations centre has been "fully staffed". 

The state's activation levels change based on a variety of factors.

The most influential factor is the occurrence of a significant incident, which is a term used to describe a single or multi-jurisdictional incident. 

A construction worker has said he was told his missing colleagues were on a break when the Dali ship crashed into the Baltimore bridge. 

Jesus Campos told the AP news agency some members of staff were sitting in their trucks when the bridge collapsed. 

The Brawner Builders employee said he learned about the disaster from a co-worker and immediately worried about colleagues he knew were working on the bridge. 

"When he told me that, they came to mind and I was praying to God that nothing had happened to them," he added.

"It is so hard for me to describe. I know that a month ago I was there, and I know what it feels like when the trailers pass.

"Imagine knowing that it is falling. It is so hard, one would not know what to do," he said. 

One person involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse has been discharged from hospital, an official at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Centre has told AP. 

Dr David Efron did not comment on the nature of the patient's injuries, and the hospital has not released their name. 

Eight people were initially reported missing after the collapse. 

Two people have been found - one was said to have serious injuries, while the other did not require hospital treatment. 

Search and rescue operations are continuing this evening to find the six construction workers still missing. 

The US transportation secretary has said the path to rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge will not be quick or easy. 

Pete Buttigieg described the bridge as "one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure". 

"It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive," he said.

He has also taken the time to thank first responders and offered comfort to those "who woke up today to the news that no one wants to receive". 

"This is an excruciating day for several families," he said. 

Clearer satellite images have emerged of the moment the Dali container ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The vessel crashed into the structure after issuing a mayday call and losing power.

Earlier, Maryland governor Wes Moore said the ship was travelling at a speed of eight knots at the time it sent out its distress call.

Within minutes of departure on Tuesday, the faltering container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Here is a timeline of the Singapore-flagged vessel's collision, in local time (four hours behind British time).

1.04am: Loaded with shipping containers, Dali departs from Baltimore's port, heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1.24am: Dali slowly approaches the Key Bridge, according to video captured by StreamTime Live.

1.24am and 33 seconds: The ship appears to suffer a total power failure as all its lights go out.

1.25am and 31 seconds: About a minute later, the ship's lights flicker back on. Black smoke starts rising from somewhere aboard the ship.

1.26am and 37 seconds: The ship's lights go dark again.

1.27am: Dali appears to be colliding with one of the Key Bridge's piers. The US Coast Guard receives the first report of a collision.

1.27am and 10 seconds: The ship's lights come back on.

1.28am and 48 seconds: The roadway of the Key Bridge begins collapsing.

1.29am: Most of the bridge's span has plunged beneath the water.

1.40am: Baltimore City Fire Department has dispatched rescue teams for the Patapsco River, with reports of multiple people in the water.

1.50am: The first fire unit arrives on the scene.

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• International

March 27, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapse

By Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Elise Hammond , Tori B. Powell and Aditi Sangal , CNN

Our live coverage of the Baltimore bridge collapse has moved here .

Here's what you should know about the Key Bridge collapse

From CNN staff

Officials recovered the bodies of two construction workers who were on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed early Tuesday morning after a 984-foot-long cargo ship collided into a pillar.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the collapse Wednesday " a global crisis ."

"The national economy and the world's economy depends on the Port of Baltimore. The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country," Moore said.

Here's what you should know:

• The victims: The six people who are presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr, the superintendent of Maryland State Police. Two bodies were recovered and have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala. The two workers were filling potholes on the bridge and were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water, Butler said. The FBI is handling notifying the victims' families, Butler said.
• Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers who are presumed dead, because additional vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris, making it unsafe for divers, Butler said. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains, he said.
• The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the fatal incident, according to the agency's chair Jennifer Homendy. During a Wednesday news conference, Homendy said there were 21 crew members and two pilots on board the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into the bridge. She also said a senior NTSB hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material, and that some containers are in the water. The agency received six hours of voyage data from the ship and the investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete, Homendy said. She emphasized that NTSB will not analyze information collected or provide conclusions while on scene of the collapse.
• Looking forward: Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the bridge will not be "quick or easy" but that it will get done. He said there are four main focus points ahead: reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues until its reopening, rebuilding the bridge and dealing with traffic issues until the bridge is rebuilt. Biden  pledged the full support  of the federal government in the response and recovery efforts. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and ultimately rebuild the bridge. Maryland has submitted a request to the Biden administration for emergency relief funds "to assist in our work going forward," Moore said Wednesday.

It's almost impossible to place people on the bow of ship due to the unstable structure, fire official says

 From CNN's Sarah Engel

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said Wednesday that the cargo ship's bridge structure and containers at the bow remain unstable.

"It's going to be very difficult, if not impossible, and very dangerous, to place people on the bow of that boat right now," Wallace told CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"Naturally, we're still very cognizant of the fact that there are hazardous materials on board the vessel itself," Wallace said, alluding to the National Transportation Safety Board saying earlier that 56 containers were carrying hazardous materials.

Wallace said his team is relying heavily on aerial recognizance, including drones. "That's the only way we're able to see in," he said.  

He added that the aerial surveillance has "been able to really assure us right now we have no [chemical] reactions on board." 

"It's just utter devastation," NTSB chief says of the bridge collapse site

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, called the site of the Key Bridge collapse "devastating."

"It's pretty devastating, certainly, seeing not just what's going on with the cargo containers, but just looking at what was a bridge span — three bridge spans that is pretty much gone. It's just utter devastation," she said at Wednesday evening's news briefing.

She added that she is thinking of families who lost loved ones and those who are waiting to reunite with their lived ones.

NTSB interviewed the Dali's captain and some other crew members today, agency chief says

The National Transportation Safety Board has interviewed the ship's captain, his mate, the chief engineer and one other engineer today, according to Chair Jennifer Homendy.

The two pilots on board the Dali at the time of collision will be interviewed tomorrow, she added.

Cargo ship's voyage data recorder is basic when compared to an airplane's, NTSB chair says

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

The voyage data recorder on the cargo ship Dali was a "newer model" but is considered basic when compared to that on an airplane, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"But it is very basic compared to say, a flight data recorder, where we would have 1,000 parameters," she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The NTSB chief investigator Marcel Muise added:

"It's not a ship-wide system recorder, so most of the sensors that are being recorded are from the bridge. So things like GPS, the audio, rudder feedback, rudder commands are recorded on there. But not engineering, the temperature of each cylinder, power distribution sensors."

There were no tug boats with Dali at the time of the collision. That's normal, NTSB chief says

There were no tugs with Dali when the cargo vessel collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge, which is normal protocol, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

Remember: At 01:26:39 on Tuesday, Dali's pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugs in the vicinity to assist, the NTSB investigator Marcel Muise had said.

"The tugs help the vessel leave the dock, leave the port and get into the main ship channel. And then they leave. Once it's on its way, it's a straight shot through the channel. So there are no tugs with the vessel at the time. So they were calling for tugs," she said.

NTSB chair says she saw some containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said she did see some of the 56 containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water.

When asked how many

When asked how many containers of hazardous materials were in the water, Homendy said:

"I did see some containers in the water, and some breached significantly on the vessel itself," she said. "I don't have an exact number, but it's something that we can provide in an update."

Homendy said that a preliminary report should be out in two to four weeks.

This post has been updated with more quotes from Homendy.

Bridge did not have any redundancy, unlike the preferred method for building bridges today, NTSB chair says

Baltimore's Key Bridge did not have any redundancy, which is included in the preferred method of building bridges in the present day, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"The bridge is a fracture critical," she explained. "What that means is if a member fails that would likely cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse, there's no redundancy. The preferred method for building bridges today is that there is redundancy built in, whether that's transmitting loads to another member or some sort of structural redundancy. This bridge did not have redundancy," Homendy said.

There are 17,468 fracture critical bridges in the United States out of 615,000 bridges total, she said, citing the Federal Highway Administration.

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Crash reported in Barling Monday, May 9 was not fatal

Victim taken to a hospital.

A crash with injury has been reported Monday afternoon in Barling affected traffic, Barling police posted on Facebook.

About 5:30 p.m. May 9, the crash was near Rogers Avenue and Meandering Way in Fort Smith city limits.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area. Barling borders the southeast side of Fort Smith. The crash was originally reported as a fatality, but was updated by police reports later as a crash with injury.

Check swtimes.com for updates to local news.

• International

March 26, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal , Tori B. Powell , Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Ship lights flickered and veered off course shortly before Baltimore bridge hit, CNN analysis shows   

From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin in London

The Singaporean-flagged cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Tuesday altered course and veered toward a pillar shortly before impact, a CNN analysis of MarineTraffic ship-tracking data confirms.  

It’s unclear what caused the ship to crash into the bridge or why its lights were flickering. CNN has reached out to the National Transportation Safety Board to inquire about a possible power failure. 

The container ship DALI, which was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, begins to change course toward the bridge’s pillar at 1:26 a.m. local time, striking the bridge at 1:28 a.m. ET, according to MarineTraffic data and video from the scene. Video from 1:25 a.m. ET shows a plume of dark smoke billowing from the ship. DALI's lights flicker at least twice before the incident.  

In video, as it navigates down the Patapsco River, the ship’s lights can be seen going out at 1:24 a.m. ET, before turning back on, and then flickering off and on again between 1:26 a.m. ET and 1.27 a.m. ET, just before it hits the bridge.  

Maryland transportation secretary says contractors were working on bridge at time of collapse

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Maryland State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters there were workers on the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the time of its collapse.

"We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge, contractors for us," he said at a news conference Tuesday morning.

Wiedefeld said the workers were "basically doing some concrete deck repair," but said they did not know how many vehicles were involved.

He added that the transport authority has set up a facility for family members of those who were believed to be on the bridge at the time of its collapse.

Baltimore fire chief: Sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace says authorities have detected vehicles submerged in the water.

“Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” said Wallace at a news conference on the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge. “I don't have a count of that yet.”

He said emergency services are using sonar, drones and infrared technology as a part of their search for people and vehicles who may have fallen from the Key Bridge into the Patapsco River.

No indication of "terrorism" or intent in Baltimore bridge collapse, police chief says

From CNN’s Andy Rose

Baltimore Police said there was no evidence that the ship collision that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was intentional.

“There is absolutely no indication that there's any terrorism, that this was done on purpose,” Chief Richard Worley said at a news conference.

The FBI  said  that it was joining the investigation into the cause of the collision.

Rescue crews have determined there are vehicles in the Patapsco River following the bridge collapse.

“Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” said Fire Chief James Wallace. “I don't have a count of that yet.”

Wallace said they are waiting to make sure that the ship is secure and stable before investigators board it.

“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said.

Cruises, cars and commodities: What to know about the Port of Baltimore

From CNN's Mark Thompson and Hanna Ziady

The collapse of the   Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River outside the Port of Baltimore threatens to disrupt shipping operations at a major US trade hub for autos, container traffic and commodities. Baltimore also has a cruise terminal.

Closer to the Midwest than any other port on the East Coast, Baltimore ranks first in the United States for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. It was also the leading port for farming and construction machinery, as well as imported sugar and gypsum. It was second in the country for exporting coal.

Overall, Baltimore ranks as the 9th biggest US port for international cargo, handling a record 52.3 million tons, valued at $80.8 billion in 2023.

“The immediate focus is the rescue operation, but there will clearly be a highly-complex recovery phase and investigation to follow and we don't know what impact this will have on operations at the Port of Baltimore," said Emily Stausbøll, market analyst at Norway-based shipping analytics company Xeneta.

“While Baltimore is not one of the largest US East Coast ports, it still imports and exports more than one million containers each year so there is the potential for this to cause significant disruption to supply chains," she added.

Baltimore's cruise terminal serves ships operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. Cruises carrying more than 444,000 passengers departed from the port last year.

According to the Maryland state government, the port supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs in related services.

Rescue crews looking for at least seven people in Baltimore bridge collapse

Rescue operations are underway near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as crews look for people who fell into the Patapsco River.

“We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point, and we will continue to be for some time,” Wallace added.

Baltimore Fire says two people have been rescued from the river – one who was uninjured, and another in hospitalized “very serious condition.”

“This is an unthinkable tragedy,” Mayor Brandon Scott said. “We have to first and foremost pray for all of those impacted.”

Ship that collided with Baltimore bridge was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk 

From CNN's Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong

The container ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday was chartered by Maersk and carrying their customers' cargo, the Danish shipping company told CNN.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," The company said in its statement.

The company, which has a full name of A.P. Moller - Maersk, said no company crew and personnel were onboard the vessel. It said the ship, DALI, is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group. 

"We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed," the statement said. 

CNN is attempting to contact the owner and managers of the ship, including Synergy.

FBI Baltimore on the scene at the Key Bridge

FBI Baltimore personnel are on the scene at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, they have said in a post on X.

The agency said it was working "side by side with our local, state and federal partners."

Baltimore fire emergency chief says 2 people saved from water after Key Bridge collapse

The Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace says authorities rescued two people from the water this morning, one without injury and the other who has been transferred to hospital in a serious condition.

Authorities are continuing their search for upwards of seven people, Wallace says. But, he says that number could change as it is a "very large incident." Earlier on Tuesday, an official said as many as 20 people could be in the water.

Wallace added that the crew remains on board the ship, and are communicating with the US Coast Guard. He added that emergency services are looking into reports that there were workers on the bridge at the time of the incident.

Speaking at the press conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also described the incident as an “unthinkable tragedy,” and offered his prayers for all those affected, as well as his thanks to first responders.

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Baltimore bridge collapse: at least six missing as Biden laments ‘terrible accident’

Mayor says rescue efforts continuing after cargo vessel hit Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending vehicles into the water

A frantic search-and-rescue effort continued on Tuesday hours after a major bridge in Baltimore , Maryland, snapped and collapsed when a container ship collided with it in the early morning, sending a number of vehicles into the water.

Baltimore fire department officials said at least six construction workers were still missing, 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.

Jeffrey Pritzker, a senior executive at Brawner Builders, the employer of the construction workers, said Tuesday afternoon that they were presumed dead, given the water’s depth and the length of time since the crash. Pritzker said the crew had been working in the middle of the bridge when it came apart. No bodies have been recovered. “This was so completely unforeseen,” Pritzker said. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers. But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse.”

A report from the Baltimore Banner earlier said the were construction workers from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico who are in their 30s and 40s, with spouses and children.

Officials added that up to 20 people and several vehicles had 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.

Joe Biden addressed the bridge collapse in a public briefing about midday, saying that all indications were that it was a “terrible accident” rather than an “intentional act”.

The president also said he was thinking of those who remained unaccounted for amid the search and rescue efforts around the bridge, a key traffic artery whose destruction is also expected to cause months of travel disruption in a city with more than 575,000 residents.

“We’re with you. We’re going to stay with you as long as it takes,” said Biden, adding that he intended to travel to Baltimore as soon as possible. “You’re Maryland tough. You’re Baltimore strong.”

Officials said the ship issued a mayday as it went off course and seemed to lose power, which Baltimore officials said allowed them to prevent more vehicles from coming on to the bridge. The ship then appeared to catch fire as part of the bridge collapsed over it, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the air.

Two people have been rescued, with one of them “severely” injured and in critical condition, officials said in a pre-dawn press conference. There were reports that there were workers on the bridge engaged in basic road maintenance when the collision occurred.

The temperature in the river was about 47F (8C) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began. “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland transportation authority posted on X. “I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike. Active scene,” it later added.

Calls to 911 had come in at about 1.30am, reporting a vessel travelling outbound from Baltimore that had struck a column on the bridge, causing it to collapse, said Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore fire department. 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 added that it was too early to know how many people were affected but described the collapse as a “developing mass casualty event”.

Cartwright said it appeared that there were “some cargo or retainers” that appeared to be dangling from the bridge, creating unsafe and unstable conditions that were complicating the rescue operation. “This is a dire emergency,” he said.

Matthew West, a petty officer first class for the coastguard in Baltimore, told the New York Times that the coastguard received a report of an impact at 1.27am ET. West said the Dali, a 948ft (290-metre) Singapore-flagged cargo ship, had hit the bridge, which is part of Interstate 695.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that the vessel was registered in Singapore and said the agency was coordinating with the US Coast Guard and the ship’s management company to help. It also said it would investigate the incident itself.

There were 22 crew onboard at the time of the incident, Singapore said.

The shipping company Maersk said that it chartered the container ship in Baltimore, with the operator named as Synergy Marine Group. Maersk confirmed that there were 22 crew, and said they were all Indian. None of them were Maersk crew or personnel.

It added that there were 4,679 containers on board, roughly half of its 10,000 capacity.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” the company said in a statement.

The Dali had left Baltimore at 1am and was heading for the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, according to the maritime data platform MarineTraffic. Synergy Marine Group, the manager of the Dali, confirmed that the ship had collided with one of the pillars of the bridge. It said all crew members, including the two pilots, had been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.

“Whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the Dali has now mobilised its qualified individual incident response service,” it said.

The same vessel was also involved in a collision in 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium, according to Vessel Finder and the maritime incident archive Shipwrecklog.

Its bow reportedly scraped the side of the quay while it was leaving port, significantly damaging several meters of the hull, and it was reportedly detained by authorities afterward.

According to Vessel Finder , the weather was fine at the time and the incident was blamed on the ship’s master and pilot on board. There were reportedly no injuries.

The Baltimore mayor, Brandon M Scott, called Tuesday’s collision an “unthinkable tragedy” at a press conference held as dawn broke on Baltimore. “Never would you imagine” seeing the bridge collapse, he added. “It looked like something out of an action movie.”

Asked how long it would take to rebuild the bridge, he said: “The discussion right now should be about the people, the lives, the souls … there are people in the water that we have to get out and that’s the only thing we should be talking about.”

He and the county executive, Johnny Olszewski Jr, said emergency personnel were at the scene and rescue efforts were under way.

Officials added that there was “absolutely no indication that there was any terrorism or that this was done on purpose”.

The Maryland governor, Wes Moore, said in a statement that he had declared a state of emergency.

He said the ship had lost power around the time when the cargo ship hit the Key Bridge, and the crew issued a “mayday” request. Moore said that officials were able to slow the flow of traffic, preventing more vehicles from falling into the water.

“These people are heroes. They saved lives last night,” Moore said, adding that Baltimore was working with an interagency government team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.

Moore added the bridge was “fully up to code” before Tuesday’s accident and that rebuilding the bridge would be a long-term effort.

In a statement, the White House said it was “closely monitoring” the events. “The US Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for those who remain unaccounted for as a result of the bridge collapse,” it said. “Senior White House officials are in touch with the governor and mayor to offer any federal assistance they need. There is no indication of any nefarious intent.”

It added that “our hearts go out” to the victims and families of what it called a “horrific incident”.

Built in 1977, the bridge spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the US’s east coast. It is named for the author of the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

Gloria Oladipo , Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

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Search called off for the night as 6 who plummeted from Baltimore bridge are presumed dead

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The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday evening for six missing bridge workers in the aftermath of a crash that brought down a major Baltimore span and sent a construction crew plummeting into the frigid water below.

Citing the cold water temperature and the length of time since the bridge’s collapse, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference that the agency did not believe it would “find any of these individuals still alive.”

For the record:

4:25 p.m. March 26, 2024 An earlier version of this article said that a body had been recovered by searchers. The source for that information, a member of the Baltimore City Council, later said she had misspoken.

The search was halted about 7:30 p.m., officials said.

Col. Roland Butler of the Maryland State Police described treacherous conditions for rescuers, including debris and changing currents. Butler said divers would resume the search Wednesday at 6 a.m. to try to retrieve the bodies.

“We do not know where they are,” he said, “but we intend to give it our best effort to help these families find closure.”

Baltimore City Council member Phylicia Porter previously told CNN that one body was recovered during search-and-rescue efforts but later said she misspoke. Butler confirmed that no bodies had been recovered as of Tuesday evening.

“This was so completely unforeseen,” said Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, which employed the workers. “We don’t know what else to say. We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers.”

Besides the construction crew, several vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed; five were found on the bed of the river below. Officials do not yet know whether anyone was trapped inside.

The Dali, a Singaporean ship, was traveling at about 8 knots and lost power before it plowed into one of the pillars supporting the Francis Scott Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference. The impact quickly caused much of the bridge to buckle, dropping major portions into the Patapsco River.

World & Nation

Would California bridges stand up to a direct hit? We asked experts

Experts say the Baltimore collapse does not expose significant vulnerabilities in the major bridges near ports across California. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle about 40% of U.S. container imports from Asia.

March 26, 2024

The tragedy prompted Moore to declare a state of emergency, saying that the state was “working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources.”

Eight members of the construction crew working on the bridge fell into the water, and two were quickly rescued; one declined treatment, and the other was hospitalized, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said at a news conference.

Those who remain unaccounted for were believed to have been repairing masonry and potholes on the bridge when it collapsed, Wiedefeld said.

Moore said that the bridge was “fully up to code” and that crew members on the Dali issued an emergency distress call shortly before the crash. There wasn’t any credible evidence that terrorism was involved, Moore said.

“Never would you think that you would see — physically see — the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”

The mayday call gave officials enough time to stop traffic on both sides of the bridge and try to evacuate people before the collapse, Moore said.

“By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes,” he added. “They saved lives.”

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said in a CNN interview Tuesday morning that sonar had detected five vehicles on the bed of the river— three passenger vehicles, a cement truck and an unknown vehicle.

The water temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit before dawn, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Synergy Marine Group, which manages and owns the ship, said in a statement that one or more pilots were operating it when it hit a bridge pillar. The pilots are local specialists who help navigate ships safely into ports. The ship was heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the time of the crash.

All crew members, including the two pilots, were accounted for; no injuries were reported among the crew, according to the company.

The ship’s management and owners are “fully cooperating with federal and state government agencies” as an investigation into the crash begins, the company said in a statement. The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., also a Singaporean company. The Times could not immediately reach the company.

President Biden said in a Tuesday news briefing at the White House that he intended to have the federal government pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge and that reconstruction would take “some time.”

Biden also said he planned to visit Baltimore as soon as possible.

“Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and all the families — especially those waiting for the news of their loved one right now,” Biden said. “I know every minute in that circumstance feels like a lifetime. You just don’t know. It’s just terrible.”

Ship traffic and the busy Port of Baltimore, which sees around 850,000 service vehicles each year, has been suspended until further notice, Biden said. The bridge also is crucial for travel, the president said, noting that more than 30,000 vehicles cross daily.

“We’re gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible,” Biden said, adding that “15,000 jobs depend on that port, and we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers.”

Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said in a news conference Tuesday that the agency would investigate the cause of the bridge collapse but was “standing back” during search-and-rescue efforts.

The agency will look into the vessel’s maintenance and safety history as well as the construction of the bridge and its design, Homendy said. The NTSB will also verify whether the loss of power to the ship led to the crash, she said.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, said that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor. The river leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Dali is chartered by Maersk, a Danish shipping company, and had the Maersk logo on the ship, according to a statement by the company. No Maersk crew members were aboard the vessel, which was about three football fields long and half a field wide.

Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), whose congressional district includes the bridge and the Port of Baltimore, said in a statement that he’s spoken with the White House and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

“They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” Mfume said. “Our prayers right now are for the missing individuals and victims of this tragedy. We thank God for the effective service of our first responders.”

The Associated Press and Times staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.

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Summer Lin is a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, the Los Angeles Times’ breaking news team. Before coming to The Times, she covered breaking news for the Mercury News and national politics and California courts for McClatchy’s publications, including the Sacramento Bee. An East Coast native, Lin moved to California after graduating from Boston College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In her free time, she enjoys hikes, skiing and a good Brooklyn bagel.

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Port of Baltimore suspends ship traffic after bridge collapse: What it means for travel

Travel is being impacted by Tuesday’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse along Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Drivers were immediately directed to take alternate routes through the city, following the early morning incident. What’s less clear is what the bridge collapse may mean for upcoming cruises in and out of Baltimore.

“Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice,” the Port of Baltimore posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Live Updates: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship hits it; construction crew missing

Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., whose district includes the bridge and the port, called the collapse an “unthinkable horror” and said he had spoken with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the White House. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” he said in a statement. “Our prayers right now are for the missing individuals and victims of this tragedy. We thank God for the effective service of our first responders.”

Here’s what we know.

Which cruises go to Baltimore?

Several major cruise lines serve Baltimore. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s leading trade group, published itineraries in the 2024 calendar year include a dozen ships making 115 stops in Baltimore.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Key Bridge that occurred last night and extend our support and heartfelt prayers to all those impacted,” CLIA spokesperson Anne Madison said in an emailed statement. “We join everyone in extending our thanks and appreciation to the first responders and emergency workers in Baltimore, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other professionals who are working with one goal in mind—to save lives. We are closely following this situation.”

Carnival’s website shows Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend also have sailings into or out of Baltimore set for April. 

Carnival Legend will temporarily move operations to Norfolk, Virginia.

The ship's current cruise, which left for a planned round-trip sailing from Baltimore on March 24, will end in Norfolk on Sunday. Passengers will then receive free bus rides to Baltimore. The vessel's next cruise will sail round-trip from Norfolk later that day.

“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” Carnival president Christine Duffy said in a statement. “We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk.”

The cruise line has not yet shared plans for Carnival Pride. Carnival's parent company, Carnival Corp., said the temporary change in homeport is estimated to have an impact of up to $10 million on adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income this year, according to a news release .

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, which left from Baltimore on March 23 , will return to Norfolk instead on April 4. "Our guests on board will be provided compensation and complimentary shuttle transportation as well as Wi-Fi and phone calls to adjust their travel arrangements," a spokesperson said in an email.

The ship's April 4 and 12 cruises will leave from Norfolk, too. "Our guests booked to sail with us will receive compensation due to the necessary adjustments made to their vacations," the spokesperson added. "After returning from the April 12 cruise, Vision will head to the Bahamas for its previously scheduled maintenance."

Was your cruise itinerary changed?: What to do next

American Cruise Lines has roundtrip sailings from Baltimore scheduled in May, according to its website.

“We will monitor the situation and make adjustments to future cruises if needed, but at the present time our schedules remain unaffected, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the immediate situation and rescue efforts underway,” an American Cruise Lines spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t appear to have any Baltimore sailings until September on Norwegian Sky . The line will stay in contact with the port and share any changes with passengers and travel partners, according to a spokesperson.

"In the meantime, we wish the city of Baltimore strength during this very unfortunate event," they said in an email.

Alternate routes for the Baltimore bridge

Most drivers can take Interstate 95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or Interstate 895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) to avoid the collapsed bridge. However Maryland Transportation Authority notes there are some exceptions .

Vehicles carrying hazardous materials, including more than 10 pounds of propane, are not allowed in the tunnels. Additionally, vehicles more than 13-feet and 6-inches high or 8-feet wide may not use the 1-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Vehicles more than 14-feet and 6-inches high or 11-feet wide may not use the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel. 

Those vehicles should use the western portion of I-695 instead.

One killed, four injured after truck crashes through restaurant

BARLING, Ark. (KNWA/KAIT) - One person was killed and three people were injured after a truck drove through a restaurant in Barling on Wednesday.

According to our content partner KNWA, the crash occurred at the Blue Agave Mexican Grill.

The crash report says Larry Stevens, 66, was driving in the Blue Agave parking lot when his vehicle ran through the north wall of the restaurant.

The vehicle struck five people inside the restaurant. 48-year-old Heather White was killed in the crash.

Stevens was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center. He faces four counts of second-degree battery, one count of felony criminal mischief, and one count of driving while intoxicated.

To read more about this story, visit KNWA’s website .

Copyright 2023 KAIT. All rights reserved.

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Moscow Sky Lights Up With Strange Glow After Explosion at Electrical Substation: Reports

N ew footage has emerged showing bright flashes lighting up the night sky in southern Moscow during the early morning hours of November 22.

Knewz.com has learned that there was an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of Russia's capital city followed by an alleged power outage in "several" homes.

Video snippets, shared on Russian news channels like ASTRA , captured a series of flashes that caused the sky to change color. Smoke could also be seen rising from a building.

Corroborating the video, several Russian Telegram accounts reported an explosion near the south of Moscow and a subsequent fire at the Lyublino electrical substation, southeast of central Moscow, per Newsweek .

The local authorities from the area have since confirmed that an explosion occurred in the village of Molokovo, but they reassured the public that all vital facilities were operating as normal.

Russian outlet MSK1.ru reported the blaze at the substation and noted “several” power outages.

The town of Lytkarino, located to the southeast of Moscow, was one of the affected areas, as reported by the independent outlet, Meduza .

Additional power failures were reported in the southern Domodedovo section of the city. However, electricity was later restored to these areas.

One local resident speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but additional sources are yet to support this theory.

Newsweek reported that messages on the ASTRA Telegram account run by independent Russian journalists showed residents near the substation panicking. One concerned Russian called it a "nightmare."

The incident follows an attack by Russia on a power station in southwestern Ukraine that left 2,000 people without electricity .

Knewz.com reported previously:

“ Russian forces launched a total of 38 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones during the later hours of November 17 and 18.

The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that 29 of these drones were shot down [...].

One civilian was injured as a result of the attack that targeted energy infrastructure in the southwestern Odesa Oblast.”

The assault came after repeated warnings by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia would try to cripple its power grid as winter approaches.

Ukraine's leader warned that if Russia resorted to attacking its power utilities, it would respond in kind.

Ukraine has conducted numerous long-range aerial drone strikes on Moscow since May 2023.

Most recently on November 20, it was reported that one such incursion was intercepted close to the city, per Kyiv Post .

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed this and elaborated that the region's air defense systems intercepted the unmanned craft over the city of Elektrostal to the east of Moscow, as well as another over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow.

The details of the recently surfaced video footage have yet to be independently verified.