Image Credit: NSTBgov
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that the six workers missing since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are presumed dead. The collapse occurred early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship struck the bridge, causing it to plummet into the Patapsco River and disrupting crucial East Coast shipping routes.
Despite extensive search efforts, authorities have shifted from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery operation. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath expressed little hope of finding the missing individuals alive, a sentiment echoed by Brawner Builders Executive Vice President Jeffrey Pritzker, who cited the depth of the water and the time elapsed since the collapse.
While the company did not release the names of the missing workers, María del Carmen Castellón revealed that her husband, Miguel Luna, is among them. Families anxiously await updates, with limited information provided amid restricted access to the disaster site.
The workers hailed from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, forming part of the local community in Dundalk and Highlandtown. Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed empathy for the families, acknowledging the profound anguish they are enduring.
The crew was conducting repairs on the bridge when the cargo ship struck it around 1:30 a.m., leading to its collapse. As the recovery operation continues, authorities are committed to providing closure for the families of the victims amidst this heartbreaking tragedy.
