Baltimore bridge collapses: are there any casualties?

Early Tuesday morning, a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed following a collision with a large boat.

The incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET, resulted in the vessel – reported to be the Dali, a 948ft (29 metres) Singapore-flagged cargo ship – appearing to lose power and catching fire, causing several vehicles to plunge into the water below, as depicted in a video shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

In response, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced the closure of all lanes in both directions on I-695 Key Bridge, with traffic being redirected. The Baltimore mayor confirmed the presence of emergency personnel at the scene and assured ongoing rescue efforts.

How many vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed?

Initial reports suggest that emergency responders were searching for at least seven people who were believed to be in the water. Speaking to the Associated Press, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, added that multiple vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.

“Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,” he told AP, although cautioned that it was too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event” and advised that there were “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,” creating unsafe and unstable conditions.

How long is the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore?

Originally opened in March 1977, the bridge, spanning the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor, was named after Francis Scott Key, author of the American national anthem.

With a main span of 1,200 feet, it held the title of the third longest continuous truss span globally and served as a critical link in Interstate 695, also known as the “Baltimore Beltway.” Despite being part of the state highway system, it was operated as a toll facility by the Maryland Transportation Authority, carrying an estimated 11.5 million vehicles annually. The toll plaza transitioned to a cashless system in October 2019.

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