The mayor of Baltimore on Tuesday called the overnight collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge an "unspeakable tragedy," as the desperate search continued for motorists and construction workers who plummeted into the waters below.

The span collapsed around 1:30 a.m. after it was struck by a large cargo ship 

"We have an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in an interview on CNN.

Scott said the Baltimore Fire Department confirmed that there were cars in the water, which run about 50 feet deep under the bridge.

Fire Chief James Wallace said two people were pulled from the water. One of them was able to walk away without medical care. The other person was in very serious condition at a hospital.

Baltimore Bridge Collapse 2024

An active search and rescue mission was continuing, the Coast Guard said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

"There's many more we have to find," Mayor Scott said. "This is an all-hands-on-deck situation."

"Everyone in this world's focus should be about the souls and those families who are wondering if those people are going to be walking back in the door after they walked out to work last night," Scott added.

A video showed the large Singaporean-flagged cargo vessel Dali crash into the bridge at around 1:30 a.m. causing a large portion of the bridge to collapse.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said the FBI was involved in the investigation to rule out any link to terrorism. He said it appeared to be an accident.

"Very tough situation," Wiedefeld said.

Grace Ocean, which owns the ship, confirmed that the Dali was involved in the incident, the New York Times reported.

"All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for, and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," the firm said in a statement obtained by the shipping news outlet TradeWinds.

Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

The Francis Scott Key Bridge — named after the poet who penned the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner — was opened in 1977 and spans the Patapsco River. It is a vital artery that, along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the U.S. East Coast. The bridge carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco.

From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame protrude from the water. An on-ramp now ends abruptly where the fallen span once began.