Bridge accident in Baltimore, USA, was caused by an electrical problem on the ship

BALTIMORE, USA – The cargo ship that crashed into a bridge in Baltimoreus U.Sin the early hours of this Tuesday, 26th, causing almost immediate collapse of the structurehad an electrical problem, said the governor of the State of Maryland, Wes Moore. Two people who fell into the river have already been rescued, one in serious condition, and six others are being sought.

“We can confirm that the crew notified authorities of an electrical issue,” Moore said. According to him, the team warned that they had lost power close to the moment the vessel collided with the bridge.

According to the governor, early warning of the problem (sent in the form of a mayday, a call for help) allowed vehicular traffic to be stopped on the bridge before the collapse, a quick response that he credited with saving lives. “These people are heroes,” he said.

One of Baltimore’s main bridges failed and collapsed after the container ship crashed and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for at least six people in the water this morning. Two people were rescued and one of them is in serious condition, according to Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace.

All eight who fell into the water were part of a construction crew filling potholes. Authorities said there were no drivers submerged, despite initial reports that vehicles had fallen from the top of the bridge.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no indication that the bridge collapse was an act of terrorism and is treating it as an accident.

The mayor of Baltimore declared a state of emergency because of the accident. Democrat Brandon Scott issued an executive order to deploy and expand emergency resources. The state of emergency will be in effect for 30 days and may be renewed or canceled as conditions warrant.

A Synergy Marine Group – company that owns and manages the ship, called From there – confirmed that the vessel struck a bridge pillar at around 1:30 a.m. (local time, 2:30 a.m. Brasília time), while it was under the control of one or more pilots, who are local experts who help navigate ships safely to ports.

The company reported that all crew members, including the two pilots on board, were found and there were no reports of injuries among them.

The Singapore-flagged Dali was built in 2015 and has been managed almost since its launch by Synergy Marine Group, which is also based in Singapore and manages a fleet of more than 600 container ships, cargo ships, tankers and other ships. The Dali was last inspected in September 2023 in New York and no deficiencies were reported at that time.

Maryland State Senator Johnny Ray Salling, who is from the area, says the bridge plays a vital role not only in transportation but also in commerce. “Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area as well as the entire East Coast,” the Republican said.

The president Joe Biden has offered federal resources for search and rescue efforts, according to the White House, adding that the American has met with senior officials to address the crisis and will continue to receive updates. His administration members maintain close contact with state and local officials, he said. /AFP, AP and NYT