BALTIMORE

Video shows tragic moment Baltimore bridge collapsed, sending several cars into the water

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed Tuesday morning after it was struck by a large container ship - a mass casualty has been declared.

At least seven people are believed to be in the water after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a cargo ship struck it early Tuesday morning, according to the Baltimore fire department. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a 1.6-mile, four-lane bridge which crosses the Patapsco River.

“I can confirm at 1.35am, Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” said Baltimore detective Niki Fennoy in a statement. A “developing mass casualty event” has been declared by the fire department communications chief Kevin Cartwright, as several cars and even more people could potentially be in the river. Cartwright has reported extremely unsafe conditions as “some cargo or retainers are hanging from the bridge”.