No more hope

Bridge drama: probably 6 fatalities, search suspended

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed onto a container ship after being rammed by it.

(Bild: AFP)

Following the collapse of a large highway bridge in the US state of Maryland, the authorities assume that the six missing people are dead. The US Coast Guard announced on Tuesday evening that the active search for survivors had been suspended. In view of the water temperature, it is no longer expected that anyone will be found alive. In addition, the health of the rescue workers was not to be jeopardized in view of the dangerous current and the debris in the water.

The bridge, which is more than 2.5 kilometers long, largely collapsed on Tuesday night after one of its pillars was rammed by a container ship. Police and rescue workers searched for several missing people from the air and in the water for many hours after the accident. Two survivors were pulled out of the freezing water.

At least seven vehicles crashed into the river. The Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Paul Wiedefeld, had said that it was assumed that the missing persons were construction workers. They had been repairing potholes on the bridge.

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Officials stopped traffic after distress signal 
According to the crew, there was a problem with the electricity on the ship. This was confirmed by the Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore. Thanks to the distress signal, officials were able to stop traffic so that no more cars entered the bridge. No further information on the cause has yet been released. However, Moore emphasized that the preliminary investigation points to an accident. There are no indications of a deliberate act or even a terrorist attack.

The US Transportation Security Administration, NTSB, is investigating the incident. It is likely to be some time before official results on the course of the accident are available. The emergency services had initially concentrated on the search for the missing persons.

Important traffic artery destroyed
The four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge, part of the Interstate 695 highway, crossed the Patapsco River southwest of Baltimore's city center. The bridge destroyed an important traffic artery on the east coast of the USA. According to the US government, around 30,000 vehicles a day crossed the bridge before the accident.

Supply chain problems feared
Baltimore is the busiest US port for car transportation. According to the Maryland government, almost 850,000 cars and light trucks were handled there in 2023. Car manufacturers that handle imports and exports via Baltimore include Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen.

More than 40 ships had to remain in port after the collapse. At least 30 ships were still on their way to Baltimore. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed fears that the collapse would lead to supply chain problems with consequences for the entire USA.