“Unbelievable”: this is how residents of Baltimore experienced the bridge collapse. All these Nobel laureates oppose Putin and issue an urgent warning

The emergency call came shortly after 1:30 am local time. “The entire Key Bridge fell into the harbor,” reported a rescuer from Baltimore, Maryland – and because it sounded so unbelievable, he repeated himself again.

Many residents of the East Coast city felt the same as the unnamed police officer or firefighter early Tuesday. They could hardly believe that a container ship destroyed one of Baltimore’s landmarks overnight. Wes Moore, the young governor of Maryland, called the disaster “shocking” and “heartbreaking.” The Democrat said: Authorities would do everything they can to find the six people who were still missing at the time.

The incident was “unimaginable,” said one onlooker, “I only drove over the Key Bridge yesterday.” The steel bridge has been part of the Baltimore Beltway since 1977. Around 35,000 cars and trucks passed through the bridge every day – which was especially appreciated by locals for the impressive view of the impressive harbor of the metropolis. “And now it is completely destroyed,” said another spectator who wanted to view the steel ruins from a great distance.

Emergency services have closed the highway

According to initial findings, the Singapore-registered container ship DALI crashed into a bridge mast at around 1:27 a.m. local time. The approximately 300 meter long and loaded ship was reportedly traveling at a speed of almost 15 kilometers per hour. The command was in the hands of an experienced captain: the entry and exit into the port of Baltimore is so difficult that the container ships transfer command to a local specialist.

However, the boat was not on course; According to an initial estimate, power failures on the DALI would have been responsible for this. The captain also sent out a distress signal at the last minute when the collision with the Key Bridge seemed inevitable.

This “Mayday!” may have saved many people’s lives. Police and firefighters had the presence of mind to block the roadway on (toll) Highway 695, as Governor Moore said. Speaking to CH Media, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said he thanked countless police officers, firefighters and first responders for their work throughout the morning. “We are blessed that so many people responded so quickly.”

The governor also emphasized in his statement that there are no indications of a terrorist attack.

Six people are still missing

While the container ship’s crew survived the collision unscathed, six people were still missing in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. These were road builders who repaired the Key Bridge surface overnight. Highly specialized divers searched desperately for signs of life in the cold waters of Baltimore Harbor. With water temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, there was little chance that these people were still alive. Another street worker was currently in hospital. Ultimately, an eighth man survived the disaster unscathed.

Finding these people is a priority, Governor Moore said Tuesday. And Mayor Scott said: Bridges can be rebuilt, but lives would be lost forever. However, the authorities obviously have to think about the clean-up work. The steel girders of the Key Bridge block the only entrance and exit to the ‘Port of Baltimore’, as the port is officially called.

“We currently do not know how long shipping traffic will have to be suspended,” the port administration said in an initial statement. The “Port of Baltimore” is one of the largest and most important ports on the East Coast of the US, popular with car importers and furniture dealers. (aargauerzeitung.ch)