Baltimore bridge collapse: Two bodies recovered; retrieval efforts suspended due to treacherous waters
Baltimore bridge collapse
Divers on Wednesday (Mar 27) recovered the remains of two of the six workers missing since a highway bridge collapsed into Baltimore Harbor after being struck by a faltering cargo freighter.
The bodies, as per Reuters news agency, were found in the Patapsco River, a day after the vessel rammed into a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, knocking most of it into the water below.
Victims identified
Maryland State Police Colonel Roland Butler confirmed that the bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of nearby Dundalk, were discovered in a red pickup truck.
The truck was submerged in about 25 feet (7.62 metres) near the mid-section of the fallen bridge.
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The four other workers are still missing and are presumed dead given the length of time that has elapsed since the bridge collapse and the frigid temperatures of the waters. According to officials, the six workers also included immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador.
Previously, on Tuesday, rescuers pulled two workers from the waters alive. One of them was hospitalised.
Retrieval efforts suspended
Butler revealed that sonar images showed additional submerged vehicles "encased" in fallen bridge debris and superstructure.
However, the efforts to locate and retrieve more bodies from the depths of the wreckage-strewn river have been suspended due to increasingly treacherous conditions.
How did the ship ram into the bridge?
As per Reuters citing officials, there is no evidence of foul play. The massive cargo ship was crippled by power loss when it crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the mouth of the Patapsco River at about 1:30 am (0530 GMT).
Dali, the Singapore-flagged container vessel, was heading out of the harbour bound for Sri Lanka at the time.
Also read |Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: DALI ship’s all-Indian crew ‘doing fine’, firm’s rep tells WION
The crash sent vehicles and people into the river. However, thanks to the fact that the ship reported a power failure before impact, officials had stopped traffic on the bridge before the collapse.
"By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives last night," said Maryland Governor Wes Moore at a news briefing.
Moore assured people that the bridge was up to code and there were no known structural issues.
(With inputs from agencies)
