- Two fatalities confirmed in Baltimore bridge collapse
- Six construction workers missing, presumed deceased; search continues
- Bridge collapse threatens global supply chains, U.S. economy
Two fatalities have been identified in a red pickup vehicle that was submerged at the location where the Baltimore bridge collapsed.
A ship collided with the bridge, causing eight construction workers to be ejected into the water below.
Despite the rescue of two of the workers that day, the search for the remaining four, who are presumed deceased, continues.
Hazardous materials are being addressed by salvage personnel while accident investigators are present at the location.
As of yet, the identities of four out of the six individuals killed in the bridge collapse remain unknown.
Wednesday at a news conference, the Maryland State Police identified Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, and Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, as the two laborers whose remains were recovered from within the truck by divers. Mr. Fuentes and Mr. Cabrera are both of Mexican and Guatemalan descent, respectively.
Police say that due to the discovery of concrete and residue in the river, divers can no longer navigate the water safely. An official stated that sonar scans are currently being utilized and that they believe vehicles that may have contained other corpses are “encased in superstructure and concrete” and descended from the bridge.
Additional presumed deceased victims, Miguel Luna, a native of El Salvador, and Maynor Suazo Sandoval, a citizen of Honduras, have been identified as missing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico previously reported that two of its nationals, including Mr. Fuentes, were presumed deceased, and another was rescued from the water.
One individual who was hospitalized following recovery from the water has been discharged, officials reported late Wednesday.
On Tuesday, first responders searched the Patapsco River for hours in an attempt to locate the six construction workers who were repairing defects on the bridge at approximately 01:30 (05:30 GMT) when the vessel collided with it. The United States Coast Guard ceased the search at sunset, stating that the workers were presumed deceased due to the low water temperature and the passage of time.
Prosecutors have vowed to locate the remains of the men for the benefit of their families.
Governor of Maryland Wes Moore told reporters on Wednesday, “We must provide closure to these families.” He added that air, land, and water resources had been utilized in the search for the victims.
He stated, “I assure them of this: I will devote each and every resource in my power to ensure that you attain closure.”
Nonetheless, the operation has proven to be difficult, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier reported on Wednesday.
Divers have been swimming in frigid waters contaminated with metal fragments from the collapsed bridge.
According to Mr. Gautier, although the cargo vessel is in stable condition, it is carrying over 1.5 million liters of fuel oil and lubricant.
A total of 4,700 cargo containers were carried, of which 56 were found to be filled with hazardous materials.
Mr. Gautier stated that the Coast Guard has made a concerted effort to board the vessel and that crews are currently present.
He assured that the hazardous materials present on board do not pose a threat to the public.
The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, stated that containers containing hazardous materials had been “breached.”
She stated that 764 tonnes of materials, the majority of which were explosive and corrosive, were discovered.
Ms. Homendy further stated that the waterway surrounding the collapse exhibited a luster.
Barges equipped with heavy lift cranes, some of which can carry up to 1,000 tonnes, are what the United States Navy intends to use to remove bridge components that float into the water.
The Dali, which was en route to Sri Lanka, abruptly lost power and issued a distress signal prior to colliding with the Baltimore bridge.
A data recorder recovered from the vessel indicates that the power outage lasted for approximately one minute, but it was sufficient to cause the collision.
An audio recording captures the pilot issuing rudder and steering directives as the vessel nears the bridge.
The collapse of a bridge at a critical port, according to officials, may endanger global supply chains and the U.S. economy.
Mr. Moore stated that the bridge collapse could have repercussions for 8,000 employees and referred to the situation as a “global crisis.”
“The port is vital to the national and international economies,” he said, adding that $80 billion (£63.4 billion) worth of cargo passed through it in the previous year.
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Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld emphasized that the process of replacing the bridge would not be quick. Still, he assured reporters on Wednesday that efforts were underway to “develop a design for the replacement of that bridge as soon as possible so that the community and port can resume operations.”
Key Bridge’s collapse, according to experts, could result in daily losses of up to $15 million (£11.8 million) until the cargo lane is reopened.
Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland expressed confidence that the state would receive the essential resources to recover and initiate construction on a replacement bridge, attributing his confidence to the Biden administration.
He stated that reopening the shipping lane is our utmost priority due to the repercussions it will have on the global supply chain and our nation.
Additionally, investigators wish to ascertain whether contaminated fuel contributed to the fatal collision. Fuel contamination, according to maritime experts, can result in a blackout on board a vessel because it disrupts the primary power generators.
