Baltimore key Bridge Collapse

A container ship that collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday reportedly changed direction moments before the crash.

A bridge in the US city of Baltimore has collapsed after it was struck by a “large vessel”, with several people and vehicles feared to have fallen into the water. The vessel appears to have crashed into one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting the ship caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

Baltimore City Fire spokesman Kevin Cartwright confirmed that at least one lorry fell into the Patapsco River after the Dali container ship struck it.

A spokesperson for the Baltimore City Fire Department confirmed the bridge collapse is a “mass casualty event,” with the department’s communications chief revealing, that as many as 20 people are believed to have fallen into the river.

The ship was reportedly a Singapore-flagged vessel.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is the only bridge in Baltimore that allows hazardous materials to be transported across it, leading to concerns about a potential environmental hazard.

Governor Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed.