Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster in Maryland: Loss of 6 of 8 Workers After Collision with a Cargo Ship
In a tragic accident in Maryland, the US was shaken by the loss of 6 of the workers who fell into the river from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed after being hit by a freighter. Details of the accident and the latest developments are in our news.
The US state of Maryland witnessed a terrible disaster at around 01:30 last night. The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the city of Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a Singapore-flagged freighter. This tragedy caused 8 construction workers to fall into the cold waters of the Patapsco River. Despite the rapid mobilization of the coast guard and local authorities, rescue teams were only able to save 2 workers. Hopes for the remaining 6 workers remain hopeless.
According to reports from the scene, the workers who were working on the bridge at the time of the freighter collision were in complete shock at the time of the disaster. According to Shannon Gilreath of the coast guard, given the cold water conditions and the time that has passed since the accident, there is almost no hope that any of the missing workers will survive.
Although safety measures were in place on the bridge at the time of the accident and every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of the workers, such a catastrophe could not have been foreseen. After the freighter hit the bridge, a huge fire broke out and a large part of the bridge collapsed. The entire crew of the freighter survived the accident.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the bridge was built in 1977 and its condition complies with current regulations. However, the information that the freighter, which called for help shortly before the accident, had previously been involved in an accident in the Port of Antwerp in Belgium and some technical deficiencies were detected, drew attention.
This tragedy deeply affected not only the local community but the whole country. The Maryland Department of Transportation announced that all roads leading to the bridge were closed to traffic and a state of emergency was declared in the state. As rescue efforts continue, an investigation into the effects and causes of this disaster is underway.
This tragic incident once again highlights the importance of infrastructure safety and vessel traffic management. In the wake of the disaster, authorities and society need to re-evaluate safety procedures and measures to prevent similar tragedies. This accident in Maryland is not only a disaster resulting in casualties, but also a serious warning to prevent similar incidents in the future.
