Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on bridge response

The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Riley Hoffman, and Nadine El-Bawab

Last Updated: April 1, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Latest headlines:

Apr 01, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT
Channel needs to be cleared more in order to recover 4 remaining victims
Apr 01, 2024, 12:48 PM EDT
Biden to visit bridge on Friday
Apr 01, 2024, 12:33 PM EDT
Temporary channel opens

Here's how the news is developing.

Mar 27, 2024, 7:05 pm

What to know about the collapse

The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.

A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the bridge collapsed, Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.

Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Mar 28, 2024, 4:15 PM EDT

Soaps, perfumes among hazardous materials

Divers are on pause due to the "hazardous conditions" caused by the collision, and officials are enforcing a 2,000-yard safety zone, according to the Unified Command leading the response.

A view of the Dali cargo vessel on March 27, 2024 which crashed yesterday into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore.
Mike Segar/Reuters

The Unified Command is made up of agencies including the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland State Police.

"First responders have observed a sheen around the vessels," the Unified Command said.

Perfumes and soaps make up the majority of the 13 impacted containers with hazardous materials, according to the Unified Command.

A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

"Crews continue to assess and monitor for spilled oils and hazardous substances to prevent further discharge," the Unified Command said in a statement Thursday.

"We have been conducting air monitoring on the vessel and around the vessel with our contractor. No volatile organic compounds or flammable vapors were observed," the Unified Command said. "Pollution and debris removal operations are on-going. At this time, no atmospheric hazards have been detected."

In an aerial view, cargo ship Dali is seen after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The Unified Command said it’s also monitoring water quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it sent two coordinators to work with the Coast Guard and other agencies.

-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney

Mar 28, 2024, 1:40 PM EDT

Maryland requests $60M in emergency relief funds from federal government

The state of Maryland has requested $60 million in emergency relief funds from the federal government "for our immediate response efforts and to lay the foundation for a rapid recovery," Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement.

The governor’s office said the funds are "needed for the state to proceed as quickly and safely as possible with debris removal, demolition, traffic operations and other emergency needs," and that this "request is supplemental to funding provided by other federal partners to provide complementary work for the emergency response."

NTSB investigators are seen on the cargo vessel Dali on March 27, 2024 which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Peter Knudson/NTSB via AP

This request is not related to bridge reconstruction efforts. The governor’s office said the state "is working to develop the preliminary scope and engineering estimate of future financial needs."

President Joe Biden announced earlier this week that the federal government will pay for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

-ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson

Mar 28, 2024, 12:49 PM EDT

State will do a full evaluation of all critical bridges in Maryland, governor says

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters that the state will do a "true full evaluation" of all fracture-critical bridges in Maryland in the wake of the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

A NTSB investigator is seen on the cargo vessel Dali on March 27, 2024 which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore on Tuesday.
Peter Knudson/NTSB via AP

During a media availability on MLB opening day announcing the new ownership of the Baltimore Orioles, Moore asked for local leaders to help rebuild.

"I'm calling on everybody to do their part. In this game, nobody gets to sit on the sidelines. We need every single Baltimorean and we need every single Marylander to join us in this work to rebuild this bridge and rebuild the city," Moore said. "And that work is happening as we speak. The best minds in the world are coming together to collect the information that we need to move forward with speed and safety."

Once the bridge is rebuilt, Moore said, "We're going to have another reopening day -- and that will be the reopening of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. And you can bet on that."

PHOTO: Maryland Governor Wes Moore (L) stands with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott along the shore of the Patapsco River after a cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing its collapse in Baltimore, Mar. 26 2024. — Maryland Governor Wes Moore (L) stands with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott along the shore of the Patapsco River after a cargo ship ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing its collapse in Baltimore, Mar. 26, 2024, in a picture released by the Governor's press secretary on X.
Carter Elliott IV/X

-ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson

Mar 28, 2024, 11:20 AM EDT

White House task force meets to discuss federal response to collapse

The White House's Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force held a meeting Wednesday and discussed how federal efforts can help the industries and workers impacted by the bridge collapse, according to the White House.

People look at the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge while visiting Fort McHenry in Baltimore, March 27, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

"Members of the Task Force shared real-time analysis of sectors with significant activity through the Port of Baltimore, including automobiles, farm machinery, and agricultural products," a White House statement said. “Members of the Task Force also provided an assessment of the impact on workers and the community."

"The Task Force will coordinate Federal outreach and efforts to assist impacted industries and will continue to monitor shipping activity at alternative ports as shipments are diverted," the readout said.