A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday after being hit by a container ship, dumping many vehicles and people into the freezing harbor below.
A 300-meter vessel collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to tumble into the Patapsco River.
Lights from what appeared to be automobiles could be seen on the road surface as the bridge strained and broke in pieces, with the third tranche cantilevering upwards before also falling into the lake.
As daylight broke on the search and rescue mission, with divers in the water hunting for survivors, the horrific scale of the event became clear.
Twisted steel stanchions were stretched over the ship’s deck, on which stacks of containers teetered precariously, adding another layer of hazard to rescue and recovery efforts.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott described the occurrence as a “unthinkable tragedy,” saying, “We have to be thinking about the families and people impacted, folks who we have to try to find.”
He described the pictures from the accident as “like something out of an action movie.”
The footage appears to show the ship going dark twice just before the accident, possibly indicating a power breakdown on board.
There was no immediate confirmation of the cause of the accident, although Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that there was “no indication” of terrorism.
A massive emergency reaction sprung into action following the crash, which occurred at 1:30 a.m. (0530 GMT), with first responders packing the shoreline.
Water temperatures hovered around 48 Fahrenheit (9 Celsius), reducing the window of survival.
Baltimore’s fire chief, James Wallace, claimed sonar had “detected the presence of vehicles” in the port but did not say how many.
He claimed one person was brought to the hospital in “a very serious condition,” while a second person who was rescued from the water was unharmed.
“We may be looking for upwards of seven individuals,” he said.
‘Sound of thunder’
A man who identified himself as a former Baltimore fire department worker said he could see the bridge from his bedroom window.
“We were awakened by what appeared to be an earthquake and a long, rolling sound of thunder,” he told local media.
“I saw some emergency lights in the area and decided to drive up… what was in progress was a multi-jurisdictional response to a disaster.”
The 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer), four-lane bridge spans the Patapsco River southwest of Baltimore.
It opened in 1977 and carries more than 11 million vehicles a year, around 31,000 a day.
It is a major part of the road network around Baltimore, an industrial city on the US East Coast next to the capital Washington.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency, a move that will ease the release of federal resources.
Shipping giant Maersk said the “DALI,” which was en route from Baltimore to Colombo in Sri Lanka, was being operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group, and carrying cargo belonging to Maersk customers.
“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” a Maersk statement said.
“We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed.”
All crew, as well as pilots — the specialized mariners who navigate vessels around port areas — have been accounted with no reports of any injuries, Synergy said.
“Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response,” US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on social media.
Baltimore is home to one of the busiest ports in the United States, handling around $80 billion worth of cargo last year, including a large volume of vehicles.
If the bridge’s collapse hampers access to the Port of Baltimore, it could have a significant economic impact.