A major bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, partially collapsed Tuesday morning after it was hit by a container ship, possibly leaving a number of people in the river below, authorities said.
A spokesperson for Baltimore Police Department told NBC News that it was responding to the incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an enormous steel structure which carries the Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area.
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Detective Niki Fennoy said in a statement.
The U.S. Coast Guard told NBC News it received a report at 1:27 a.m. ET that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was a 948-foot vessel named DALI, a container ship sailing under a Singaporean flag.
“USCG has deployed three response boats, and pollution responders are en route,” said a spokesman, Petty Officer First Class Matthew West.
The Maryland Transport Authority confirmed that the I-695 was shut because of the Key Bridge collapsing due to a “ship strike.”
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. said on X that he was aware of the incident and in touch with the fire service chief, the mayor of Baltimore and other local officials. “Please pray for those impacted,” he said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said on X he was on his way to the bridge. “Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he said.
NBC News has contacted other emergency response agencies for further details.
Images posted to social media early Tuesday show the mangled wreck of the bridge rising out of the river in the dawn twilight. Video showed a stationary ship with its lights still on, against the dark outline of the ruined steel structure. A livestream shot of the collision shows the ship slowly move into the bridge’s support as cars and trucks travel on the road above.
Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge it later named after the author of the American national anthem. The bridge is more than 8,500 feet, or 1.2 miles, long in total. Its main section spans 1,200 feet and was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.
This is a developing story, check back here for updates.
