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

Updated 2:04 a.m. ET, March 27, 2024

What we covered here

Two of the six construction workers who were missing after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed are from Guatemala, the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said late Tuesday.
The US Coast Guard has ended the rescue operation for the six workers, who were on the bridge when it collapsed. "We do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals still alive," Commander Shannon Gilreath said.
Ahead of the collision, the ship's crew notified officials with a "mayday" call that allowed authorities to stop traffic before impact and likely saved lives, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
The collapse that has indefinitely halted the flow of ships in and out of Baltimore could hurt the local economy, strain supply chains and scramble deliveries along the US East Coast.

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10:51 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Pete Buttigieg is heading to Baltimore today

From CNN's Kaitlan Collins

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg testifies at Capitol Hill on September 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is heading to Baltimore today, a staff member with the agency confirmed to CNN.

Buttigieg spoke to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a post from the secretary on X.

"Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response," Buttigieg wrote.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said in a news briefing Tuesday morning that authorities are searching for alternative transport options for the approximately 35,000 people using the bridge every day, noting that they will be directing people to use two major tunnels — the harbor tunnel and the Fort McHenry Tunnel — to avoid the site of collapse.

10:58 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

5 vehicles submerged in water have been found, Baltimore fire chief says

From CNN's Alisha Ebrahimji

Authorities have been able to find three passenger vehicles, a cement truck and a fifth vehicle submerged in the water using infrared and side-scan sonar technology, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told CNN.

Up to eight dive teams were in the water performing search and rescue operations, he said, noting he's unsure if the fifth car is a passenger or work vehicle.

"It's the dynamic of an incident like this, operating in a space of uncertainty, it just makes things very difficult," he said. "Add darkness to it, it becomes dangerous."

10:46 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Singapore, where the vessel was registered, will launch investigation into ship that crashed into bridge

From CNN’s Sahar Akbarzai and Heather Chen

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) announced it will launch an investigation into the container ship DALI and the bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, according to a statement from the MPA on Tuesday.

The DALI is a Singapore-registered vessel, according to the port authority.

The MPA said it is in contact with the US Coast Guard and will “provide full cooperation to the US Coast Guard in its investigations,” the statement says.

10:40 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

6 people are still unaccounted for after the bridge collapse, Maryland officials say. Here's what we know

From CNN Staff

A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26. Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning after it was struck by a 984-foot cargo ship.

Here's what we know:

Six people remain missing: Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed eight people were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. At least two people have already been rescued — one is in the hospital, the other is fine. The search continues for the other six.
Drones and sonar used in search operation: Authorities are carrying out a search and rescue operation using sonar and infrared technologies as well as drones, officials said. So far, they have identified vehicles submerged in the water. The Baltimore branch of the FBI is also at the scene, however the Baltimore police chief said there was no indication of terrorism as a motivating factor.
Ship lost power before crash: Video shows the moment the entire 1.6-mile-long, four-lane bridge crumbled into the water, after the vessel struck one of the bridge's pillars. CNN analysis shows that the ships lights flickered and it veered off course before it hit the bridge. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the crew on the ship were able to issue a "mayday" before colliding into the bridge, which allowed the authorities to stop incoming traffic from going onto the bridge.
More about the ship: The ship was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk and was carrying their customers' cargo, the Danish shipping company told CNN. The company said no Maersk crew or personnel were onboard the vessel. It said the ship, DALI, is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group.
Looking for transit alternatives: Wiedefeld said authorities are searching for alternative transport options for the roughly 35,000 people using the bridge every day, noting that they will be directing people to instead use two major tunnels — the harbor tunnel and the Fort McHenry Tunnel.

10:33 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Insurers of DALI ship working to "establish the facts" following bridge incident

From CNN’s Caitlin Danaher

The insurers of the DALI container ship involved in a collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday are “working closely with the ship manager and relevant authorities to establish the facts,” a statement from Britannia P&I Club said Tuesday.

With head offices in London and Luxembourg, the Britannia P&I Club provides Protection and Indemnity insurance and Freight Demurrage and Defence insurance to shipowners and charterers, according to the company website.

Britannia P&I Club added it is working to “help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally."

“In the meantime, our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident,” the statement added.

10:31 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Ship issued "mayday" before colliding into bridge, governor says

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said crew on the ship were able to issue a "mayday" before colliding into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which allowed authorities to stop traffic from going on the bridge.

"We're thankful that between the 'mayday' and collapse that-that we had officials who were able to-to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," Moore said.

10:33 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Authorities redirecting commuters to tunnels, transportation chief says

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

A traffic warning sign is displayed on Route 95 after a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse on March 26. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said authorities are looking for alternative transport options for the approximately 35,000 people who use the bridge every day.

"To give you a sense of scale, roughly about 35,000 people in a day use that facility," he said.

Wiedefeld said double that number use the harbor tunnel, and even more than that use the Fort McHenry Tunnel.

He said authorities will be directing people to using the two tunnels, and will have authorities there to deal with any incidents that may arise with increased congestion on the tunnel routes.

10:12 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

Crew on ship notified authorities that they lost power, governor says

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Crew on the ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore notified authorities they had lost power on the ship, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore confirmed during a news conference Tuesday.

10:12 a.m. ET, March 26, 2024

8 people were on the bridge at the time of collapse, Maryland transportation chief says

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld speaks during a press conference, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26. Nathan Howard/Reuters

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said eight people were on the Key Bridge at the time of its collapse.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Wiedefeld said two of those people are accounted for — one is in hospital, one is okay, and the search is continuing for the other six.