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US bridge collapses after being hit by ship (VIDEO) US bridge collapses after being hit by ship (VIDEO)
(about 2 hours later)
Footage of the incident shows cars falling into the water Authorities have warned of a ‘developing mass casualty event’
A large section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed into the Patapsco River after being hit by a ship, the authorities in the largest city of the US state of Maryland have confirmed. A four-lane bridge in the US state of Maryland has collapsed after being hit by a ship. A large section of the 1.6-mile (2.6 km) long Francis Scott Key Bridge fell into the Patapsco River, state authorities have confirmed.
The incident happened at around 1:30 am, according to AP. The clips posted on X (formerly Twitter) show several sections of the bridge going down, with multiple cars falling into the water.  The incident happened at around 1:30 am, according to AP. Clips posted on X (formerly Twitter) show several sections of the bridge going down, with multiple vehicles cascading some 55 metres into the water. 
There have so far been no reports of deaths or injuries. The Maryland Transportation Authority said that all lanes in both directions were closed and traffic is being detoured.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said that all lanes in both directions were closed on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured, it added. Up 20 people could have fallen into the water as a result of the incident, Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright told BBC. 
The director of communications for the Baltimore City Fire Department, Kevin Cartwright, confirmed to the BBC that the bridge had been struck by “a large vessel” and partially collapsed. “As many as seven individuals and several vehicles” ended up in the Patapsco River, Cartwright said. Cartwright confirmed earlier that the bridge had been struck by “a large vessel” and partially collapsed.
BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRnBREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn
In a separate comment to AP, Cartwright described the situation as a “developing mass casualty event,” saying it is too early to determine how many people were affected.   In a separate comment to AP, the spokesman described the situation as a “developing mass casualty event.” He went on to say it appears that there are “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,” which complicates the work of the rescuers, making them operate more cautiously. “This is a dire emergency,” he added.
He went on to say it appears that there are “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,” which complicates the work of the rescuers, making them operate more cautiously. “This is a dire emergency,” the spokesman added. The vessel that caused the collapse was the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali, its management company, Synergy Marine Group, confirmed. The cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the company said, adding that the ship was under the control of two pilots when it hit one of the pillars of the bridge. There were no injuries aboard the Dali, with all crew member accounted for, it added.
The vessel that caused the collapse could be the Singaporean-flagged container ship Dali, Sky News reported, citing data from MarineTraffic website. The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977 and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a 1.6-mile (2,632-meter) four-lane bridge across the Patapsco River. It was opened in 1977 and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor.