Two were rescued shortly after the bridge collapsed, while the other six were presumed dead. Divers found the bodies of two of them on Wednesday, but the search for the others had to be postponed because it was too dangerous, according to local authorities. The idea is to remove the rubble and then look for the bodies.
Area residents attended a vigil in a nearby park on Thursday, local media reported, and Baltimore City Hall launched a fundraiser to support the victims’ families.
“We are very sorry about this tragedy,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters. He asked for patience, as rebuilding the bridge “will not take hours, nor days, nor weeks.” “We have a long way to go,” he added.
The reopening of the port is a priority for the government. “We are moving heaven and earth” to get it back up and running, said White House advisor Tom Pérez.
The Federal Highway Administration has committed to providing an initial $60 million requested by Maryland for what Moore called “immediate response efforts and to lay the groundwork for a rapid recovery.”
The disaster could result in the biggest marine insurance payout ever, according to London-based insurance giant Lloyd’s.
