(From left) Miguel Luna; Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval.Photo:Maynor Suazo/Facebook;Miguel Luna/Facebook
Maynor Suazo/Facebook;Miguel Luna/Facebook
A massive cargo ship named theDalicrashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday,destroying the bridgeand sending victims and vehicles into the water.
Six construction workers remain missing and arepresumed dead, while two people were rescued in the aftermath of the collapse.
In a statement shared on Brawner Builders’website, owner Jack Murphy said the crew “was doing bridge maintenance work on the surface of the bridge” when the crash and subsequent collapse occurred.
“Our company is in mourning over the loss of these fine people. But of course, our sense of loss cannot in any way compare to what their families are feeling," Murphy added.
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath announced Tuesday that authorities believed the victims were dead “based on the length of time that we’ve gone on this search, the extensive search efforts that we’ve put into it, the water temperature.”
Emphasizing that the U.S. Coast Guard is “not going away,” Gilreath added, “We’re just going to transition to a different phase.” Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., Maryland State Police secretary, added that their mission has turned into a “recovery operation.”
Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department, spoke with reporters Tuesday afternoon about the search and rescue operation. He said that officials will keep searching until “our work is done.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge rests partially collapsed after a container ship ran into it in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said Wednesday morning thathe met with the familiesof the construction workers, tellingCBS Morningsanchor Tony Dokoupilthat the state is “going to use every asset to bring them a sense of closure” as recovery efforts continue and as the NTSB investigates.
PresidentJoe Bidenhas announced ship traffic has been suspended in the Port of Baltimore until further notice.
“Providing humanitarian support during this crisis is the priority, as families navigate this tragedy and seek answers about their missing loved ones,” said CASA Executive Director Gustavo Torres via the organization’swebsite.
“The entire Baltimore region and CASA family is lamenting this tragedy,” he added.
Rescue personnel gather on the shore of the Patapsco River after a container ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Even if lifeless, we, the family members, need them to rescue the bodies at least to see them and have them handed over to my family,” Suazo Sandoval’s brother, Carlos Suazo Sandoval, toldCNNin a subsequent report.
In a Spanish-language interview with PEOPLE, coworker Jesús Campos said he is acquaintances with the six individuals,describing them all as “good people.”
The Washington Consulate of Mexico said viaX(formerly known as Twitter) Tuesday night that the six workers included individuals from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Rescue personnel gather on the shore of the Patapsco River after a cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
More than $43,000 has been raised through aGoFundMe campaignfor the Latino Racial Justice Circle, which aims to assist the families of the individuals who are presumed dead.
“It could’ve been me,” Campos said. “Around a month ago I was working on the bridge…we had been moved to the day shift and they went at night.”
source: people.com
