Governor Wes Moore confirmed that the ship's crew issued a mayday call shortly before the collision, allowing authorities to take action and limit vehicles on the bridge.
Audio recordings capture Baltimore officials scrambling to stop traffic as the Baltimore Bridge collapses.
The recording reveals a frantic effort to halt traffic.
Approximately 90 seconds after the initial Mayday call, another voice urgently reports the bridge collapse.
"I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge," one person instructs.
"There's a ship approaching that just lost their steering so until we get that under control, we've got to stop all traffic."
The urgency intensifies as the bridge's fate becomes clear. "The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever … everybody. The whole bridge just collapsed," another voice shouts.
A response highlights the physical barrier created by the collapsed structure: "I can't get to the other side, sir. The bridge is down."
The Baltimore Bridge collapsed after being struck by a container ship.
According to the report, the Baltimore Bridge collapsed after being struck by a container ship.
In the viral video shared on social media, the ship was seen striking a bridge support, causing the rapid and shocking collapse, leaving viewers shocked.
In the footage, the vessel caught fire, spewing thick black smoke before hitting the bridge.
Baltimore Fire Department communications director, Kevin Cartwright, described the situation as "a dire emergency."
Additionally, Governor Moore emphasized the critical role of the Mayday call, stating, "With the ship barreling toward the bridge at 'a very, very rapid speed,' authorities had just enough time to stop cars from coming over the bridge... These people are heroes. They saved lives last night."
The timelapse video showed the Baltimore Bridge Collapse
On social media, several viewers were shocked after the timelapse video and CCTV footage showing the moment of the Baltimore Bridge Collapse, quickly went viral.
The timelapse video starts around 1:23 am, with the cargo ship becoming obscured a minute later. There's a brief flicker of recovery as some lights turn back on, but thick smoke quickly billows from the vessel.
Additionally, at approximately 1:26 am, the video depicts the ship losing power again. Just as the lights return, the vessel slams into the bridge, causing the entire structure to crumble.
One person said: Notice the billow of smoke meaning full power to the engines as it gets lined up the hit the bridge…. Weird
A second wrote: The thing is I'm wondering is that the first time that cargo ships go under the bridge. It's like a truck driver you always know how high bridges are right. So did the captain know
While a third commented: What a nightmare. I’m sorry for the victim’s family and also thankful that the bridge wasn’t full of traffic when it went down.
Imagine looking back at your rearview mirror and seeing the bridge you were just on collapsed. My prayers go out to those families affected by this. Another added.
After the incident, information about casualties remains unclear.
According to the report, at least a dozen cars and 20 construction workers were on the bridge when it collapsed.
The State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed that six construction workers filling potholes were unaccounted for. One rescued worker received medical attention but was later released. Several vehicles went into the water, though thankfully, no occupants were believed to be inside.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld reported that eight people were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Two individuals were rescued from the water, with one refusing medical treatment and the other receiving care before being released.
Now, the rescue team is attempting to save numerous lives. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Watching the video:
