NewsSearch for missing after Baltimore bridge collapse suspended

Search for missing after Baltimore bridge collapse suspended

Authorities have declared six people missing in the Baltimore bridge disaster as dead.

Images source: © Getty Images | Scott Olson

9:02 PM EDT, March 26, 2024, updated: 9:04 AM EDT, March 27, 2024

The state police have announced the suspension of the rescue operation for individuals missing after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, resulting in six fatalities in this tragic construction incident.

Officials from Baltimore City and the state of Maryland have cited the elapsed time since the accident and the low water temperatures in the bay as reasons for suspending the search, indicating a near-zero chance of finding any survivors.

During the operation in Patapsco Bay, rescue teams were able to save two individuals. According to doctors, these survivors are in critical condition. The missing, now presumed deceased, were employees of a public works company, as reported by the BBC.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known simply as the Key Bridge, stood as a beloved landmark in Baltimore since its inauguration in 1977. It was a monumental engineering feat designed to improve connectivity between the regions flanking Patapsco Bay.

Named after Francis Scott Key, the lawyer and poet who penned "The Star-Spangled Banner," the bridge commemorates his legacy and connection to Baltimore, where he rests.

The bridge's collapse has significantly disrupted urban traffic and blocked the port, endangering up to 15,000 jobs. The obstruction will cause notable delays, cost increases, and inflated delivery prices.

In response, President Joe Biden vowed to do whatever it took to swiftly reopen the port and reconstruct the bridge.