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Maryland governor declares state of emergency
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
"We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone’s safety," the governor's statement said.
Reports of vehicles in the water after Baltimore bridge collapse, US Coast Guard confirms
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
The US Coast Guard (USCG) is responding to the Francis Scott Key Bridge emergency after receiving a report that a container ship hit it at 1:27 a.m. ET "and it subsequently collapsed," according to a public affairs officer Kimberly Reaves of the Coast Guard's 5th District.
There are reports of vehicles in the water, according to Reaves, who says the Coast Guard has deployed "multiple" response units for a search and rescue mission.
"Coast Guard units on scene include small boats from Station Annapolis and Station Curtis Bay and a helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City," the statement read.
Reaves said that multiple state and local agencies are assisting, and it is unclear if there are any casualties.
US Secretary of Transportation spoke to Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor after bridge collapse
From CNN's Colin McCullough
US Secretary of Transportation Pete 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 onX.
Buttigieg said that “rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.”
US Coast Guard says container ship, the DALI, hit Baltimore bridge
From CNN's Gianluca Mezzofiore and Alex Stambaugh
The vessel that hit Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge was a container ship, the DALI, according to public affairs officer Kimberly Reaves of the US Coast Guard's 5th District.
A container ship named DALI "hit the Francis Scott Key bridge" at 1:27 a.m. ET "and it subsequently collapsed,"Reaves said in a statement.
Maritime tracking website MarineTraffic showed that the Singapore-flagged ship stopped in Baltimore, where it was departing with a destination of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The website showed the ship stopped around 1:30 a.m. ET and was surrounded by first response boats.
At about 1:30 a.m., local agencies reported receiving 911 calls that a large ship traveling outbound from Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge, Kevin Cartwright, spokesperson for the Baltimore Fire Department told AP.
The ship is around300 meters (984 feet) long with a width of around 48 meters (157 feet),according to MarineTraffic data.
CNN is attempting to contact the owner and managers of the ship.
This post has been updated to add comments from the Coast Guard.
Condition of collapsed bridge to be investigated, Baltimore Fire Department says
Officials will begin assessing the condition of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed early Tuesday, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department told CNN.
"This bridge hasbeen in place for quite sometime and has served many, manycommuters in the Baltimoremetropolitan area. So as the investigationensues, there will bestructural engineers involvedtotry and assess what thecondition of the bridge is," Cartwright said.
Currently, conditions are "unsafe" but investigators will also assess the condition of the bridge before its collapse, according to Cartwright.
"This is a very devastatingincident in which theseindividuals have encountered soour hearts go out to each andevery one of them, and we willbe working valiantly throughoutthe early morning to addressthis," he said.
Freezing temperatures "pose concern" as search efforts expand after Baltimore bridge collapse
Freezing conditions and limited visibility at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore could "pose a concern" as rescue crews search for at least 20 people believed to have fallen into the water.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department, told CNN they are working with the US Coast Guard and a team of divers are in the river for search and rescue operations, with temperatures around the port at around 30 °F (-1°C).
"This happened at 01:30a.m. with limited visibility sowe are working aggressively,considering the environmentaltemperatures as well as thewater temperatures to try andrescue and perhaps recoverindividuals," Cartwright said.
"It feels like atleast about 30 degrees (-1°C) where Iam. It could be slightly lower than that. And I'm surethat the water temperature iseven colder... Andthat can pose a concern andrisk for our divers."
Cartwright said the teams were working "methodically and safely" to ensure "everyone operating here onthe scene is safe and thatwe're able to make progresswithout causing adverse harm toanyone else."
Rescuers searching for up to 20 people in the river, BaltimoreCity Fire Department tells CNN
Baltimore is facing a "mass casualty multi agency incident," with response teams working to rescue around 20 people who may have fallen into the river when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed.
"We are in the midst of managing a mass casualty multi agency incident here," said Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
"Unfortunately, we understand that there are up to 20 individuals who may be in the Patapsco river as well as multiple vehicles," he told CNN.
Cartwright said they are working with the US Coast Guard and a team of divers are in the river for search and rescue operations, with temperatures around the port at around 30 °F (-1°C).
There could have been a vehicle "aslarge as a tractor trailer"on the bridge at the time of collapse, Cartwright said.
"Very significant crash" raises many questions, CNN correspondent says
From CNN's Kathleen Magramo
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was struck by a large ship is a "very significant crash" and will raise many questions, CNN correspondent Gabe Cohensaid.
"This is a very important bridge. This is along 695 and the videos that are emerging are surreal — to see this container ship collide with the bridge and very quickly that bridge crumbles into several pieces down into the water," said Cohen, who is traveling to the scene in Baltimore.
Rescue crews are searching for at least seven peoplein the Patapsco River aftermultiple vehicles fell into the water when the bridge collapsed, a Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson earlier told the Associated Press.
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told the AP the bridge collapse was a "developing mass casualty event."
The interstate is used by a lot of commuters alongside a high volume of cargo shipping, CNN's Cohen said.
"[It] is not just around the Baltimore area, but for those who travel between Washington and New York, it is highly trafficked," he said. "I've taken that bridge dozens of times across the mid-Atlantic northeast region as you’re trying to cross between cities."
Rescue crews reportedly searching for 7 people after Baltimore bridge collapse
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
Rescue crews are searching for at least seven peoplein the Patapsco River aftermultiple vehicles fell into the water when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed overnight, a Baltimore City Fire Department spokespersontold the Associated Press.
Local agencies received 911 calls at around 1:30 a.m. ETreportingthat a ship, traveling outbound from Baltimore, had struck a column on the bridge,Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department told AP.
“This is a dire emergency,” he said.
“Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,” Cartwright told the outlet.
The officialcalled the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
Cartwright said it appeared there are “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,” making conditions unsafe and unstable for emergency responders operating at the scene.
CNN has reached out to Baltimore City Fire Department, Maryland Department of Transportation and US Coast Guard for additional information.
