Maryland state police have declared six individuals missing in the wake of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, to be presumed deceased.
The tragedy, which occurred on Tuesday, saw vehicles and eight construction workers plunge into the Patapsco River.
According to Jeffrey Pritzker, a senior executive at Brawner Builders, the employer of the construction crew, the depth of the water and the time elapsed since the incident led to the grim presumption of the workers’ fate.
Pritzker expressed the shock and sorrow felt by the company, emphasizing their commitment to safety protocols.
Maryland officials corroborated this assessment, affirming that recovery efforts would resume the following day with the aid of a team of divers.
The accident occurred suddenly while the crew was performing maintenance on the bridge, catching everyone off guard.
“We take such great pride in safety,” Pritzker lamented.
“But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse.”
The Dali, the vessel responsible for the collision, reported that all 22 crew members were safe.
President Joe Biden has been in contact with various officials at federal, state, and local levels to coordinate the response to the incident.
Governor Wes Moore clarified that the bridge had been deemed structurally sound before the collision.
However, scrutiny has emerged regarding Dali’s history, as it was involved in a previous incident in Belgium and was found to have propulsion deficiencies in Chile.
The sequence of events leading to the collapse began with a mayday call from the ship, which had veered off course, striking a bridge column.
Subsequent efforts by Baltimore officials prevented further vehicles from entering the bridge, averting additional casualties.
The aftermath of the incident has disrupted traffic and port activities, prompting Biden to pledge federal support for the bridge’s reconstruction.
Despite inquiries into the responsibility of the ship’s owners, the focus remains on swift recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Reports have emerged identifying the missing construction workers as individuals seeking better opportunities for their families in Baltimore.
Biden has committed to visiting the city, underscoring the government’s dedication to the recovery process.
“We’re not leaving until this job is done,” Biden affirmed, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Buttigieg is also slated to expedite his visit to Baltimore in support of ongoing efforts.
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