Baltimore bridge collapse: Body of sixth and last missing worker recovered

Baltimore officials announced on Tuesday (May 7) that recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March are complete after the body of the final missing construction worker was found.

Officials informed the crew of Dali will remain on board the grounded container ship while crews conduct a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining span of the fallen bridge.

On March 26, the container ship Dali lost power and slammed into a support column of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. The impact caused a steel span to fall directly onto the ship's bow. Since the accident, the Dali has remained stuck because of the debris, forcing the closure of Baltimore's port to most maritime traffic.

Six construction workers were killed in the collapse. On Tuesday, the body of Jose Mynor Lopez was recovered, officials said in a statement. All the victims were Latino immigrants who had been working an overnight shift filling potholes on the bridge.

Officials said salvage divers had located his body and alerted the state authorities.

“With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” Col Roland Butler Jr, the Maryland state police superintendent, said in a statement.

Officials hope to use controlled demolition in the coming days to free the Dali, the container ship lodged under the bridge wreckage. Refloating the Dali will allow it to be guided back to port, finally reopening Baltimore's busy harbour.

This is welcome news for the thousands of longshoremen, truck drivers, and small business owners who have been impacted by the closure.

The Dali’s crew will shelter in place aboard the ship while the explosives are detonated, said Ronald Hodges, a Coast Guard petty officer.

Engineers have been working for weeks to determine the best way to remove this last major piece of the fallen bridge.

Hodges said the crew’s safety was a top concern as officials considered whether they should remain on the ship during the demolition. He said engineers are using precision cuts to control how the trusses break down.

Stranded since the March disaster, the Dali's crew – 20 from India and one from Sri Lanka – have remained on board to assist investigators and maintain the ship.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI are conducting separate investigations into the bridge collapse.

(With inputs from agencies)