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 27, 2024, 5:46 AM EDT

Workers from Guatemala, El Salvador among missing

Construction workers originally from Guatemala and El Salvador are among the six missing after the Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, foreign officials and local aid group said.

The two from Guatemala who are missing are a 26-year-old from San Luis, Petén, and a 35-year-old from Camotán, Chiquimula, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. Their names were not released.

Authorities say the 47-degree water and unpredictable currents are just too treacherous for the six missing workers to have survived the Maryland bridge collapse as the investigation continues.

3:28

Coast Guard ends search for missing workers after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapseAuthorities say the 47-degree water and unpredictable currents are just too treacherous for the six missing workers to have survived the Maryland bridge collapse as the investigation continues.

ABCNews.com

Another missing worker was identified as Miguel Luna, who is originally from El Salvador, according to Court Appointed Special Advocates, a group that works with immigrants.

"Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, left at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening for work and since, has not come home," the organization said in a press release. "He is a husband, a father of three, and has called Maryland his home for over 19 years."

MORE: 2 Guatemalans, 1 Salvadoran among missing from Baltimore bridge collapse

-ABC News’ Victoria Arancio and Kevin Shalvey

Mar 26, 2024, 7:52 PM EDT

Search and rescue efforts to be suspended, move to recovery operation: USCG

The Coast Guard said it is suspending the search and rescue efforts as of 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for the six missing individuals after the bridge collapse.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature -- at this point, we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive," Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath told reporters.

The Coast Guard announced Tuesday night the suspension of the search and rescue efforts for six people who went missing after a container ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.

7:50

Baltimore bridge collapse: Search and rescue efforts suspended, Coast Guard saysThe Coast Guard announced Tuesday night the suspension of the search and rescue efforts for six people who went missing after a container ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.

ABCNews.com

The conditions in the water, including low water temperatures and unpredictable currents, have made it dangerous for first responders, authorities said.

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

Authorities said they plan to conduct recovery efforts starting at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

"We're hoping to put divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to do our very best to recover those six missing people," Col. Roland Butler with the Maryland State Police said.

Mar 26, 2024, 7:08 PM EDT

Carnival temporarily moving Baltimore operations to Norfolk

Carnival is temporarily moving its Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia, amid the rescue and remediation efforts following the bridge collapse, the cruise line said Tuesday.

"Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore," Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. "We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk."

The move impacts the Carnival Legend ship, which is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, the company said. The cruise will return to Norfolk with free bus service back to Baltimore, Carnival said.

Mar 26, 2024, 4:40 PM EDT

EPA on standby, not aware of any concerns

The regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency is on standby to respond to the aftermath of the bridge collapse if needed but is not aware of any environmental concerns at this time, according to EPA Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs spokesman Shaun Egan.

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

Synergy Marine Group said Tuesday morning that there was no pollution from the ship.

The Coast Guard is the primary federal agency responding and they have not asked for EPA assistance. Coast Guard pollution responders were sent to the scene, and if any releases of fuel or other pollutants are detected, the EPA official said the agency is ready to support that response.