Authorities are still searching for six workers who went missing after a tragic incident on Tuesday. A major bridge in Baltimore collapsed, causing the construction crew to fall into the cold water below.
According to Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, the six missing individuals are believed to have died, considering the significant amount of time that has passed since the crash and the depth of the water.
"We are hearing one body was found," Baltimore City Council Member Phylicia Porter told CNN. No further information has been provided regarding the body, and authorities have chosen to withhold the individual's identity.
The active search and rescue mission for the missing workers, who tragically fell off the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo ship collided with it on Tuesday morning, is coming to a close, according to the Coast Guard.
Video captures the intense efforts of rescue teams as they comb through the Patapsco River following the devastating bridge collapse. The incident has resulted in vehicles being submerged and several workers reported missing.
Various teams are currently inspecting the Singaporean-flagged Dali following its collision with the bridge on Tuesday morning. The remains of the 1.6 mile-long bridge are visible in the bow of the vessel, as search teams use flashlights to scour the murky waters for the missing individuals.
There are currently five vehicles submerged in the river, and unfortunately, there are six construction workers who are still missing. These workers were on the bridge when it collapsed.
Authorities in Maryland are currently utilizing sonar technology to locate individuals who fell into the frigid water while carrying out repairs on the bridge. The incident occurred when the 185-foot structure unexpectedly collapsed.
Authorities have recently reported the discovery of five submerged vehicles using advanced infrared and side-scan sonar technology. The vehicles include three passenger cars, a cement truck, and another unidentified vehicle.
The state of emergency was declared by Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday morning after a devastating collision took place around 1.30am. The ship had only been sailing for 20 minutes when it collided with a support column on the bridge.
Moore said the ship's crew successfully issued a distress signal before colliding with the bridge, enabling officials to prevent vehicles from accessing the bridge.
"We're thankful that between the 'mayday' and collapse that-that we had officials who were able to-to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," Moore expressed.
According to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, a total of eight individuals were present on the bridge during its collapse. Fortunately, two of them were successfully rescued from the water. One of the survivors chose not to receive medical treatment, while the other was transported to the hospital for further assistance.
