Search for missing after Baltimore bridge collapse suspended
Mar 26, 2024 | updated: 9:04 AM EDT, March 27, 2024
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.
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.