The wife of a construction worker who was on the Baltimore bridge at the time of the tragic incident has spoken out, claiming it's a "miracle" he survived.
The nation was left reeling on Tuesday when the towering 984-foot cargo ship, known as the Dali, collided with the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending it crashing into the Patapsco River below.
Two bodies have since been recovered from the water, identified as 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, of Baltimore, and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera.
Regrettably, four more individuals - also construction workers - remain missing and are presumed dead.
Now, authorities have shifted their focus to a salvage operation, aimed at removing wreckage from the Patapsco River.
Hazardous conditions have forced a halt to search operations for victims' remains, with divers unable to access submerged vehicles, as reported by The Washington Post.
Julio Cervantes was a construction worker on the bridge at the time of the collapse - and was one of two men rescued following the collision. His wife, who didn't disclose her name, has since spoken to NBC News about his experience.
"All of the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit," she said. "My husband doesn't know how to swim. It is a miracle he survived."
Despite sustaining a chest wound, Cervantes was fortunate to be released from the hospital the same day.
Cervantes' wife revealed that her brother-in-law was one of the two men whose body was recovered, without disclosing any names.
Her nephew is still among those missing.
"We haven’t been able to sleep, waiting for word if they’re going to find a relative," she said.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, visibly shaken by the enormity of the loss, expressed his condolences to the grieving families in an interview with CBS Mornings.
"They received the worst news that they could have possibly received. When their family members left to go to work, they never imagined that the result would be ... a bridge collapsed, and now their family member's missing," he said.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration announced a glimmer of hope with the approval of $60 million in "quick release" Emergency Relief funds to aid in the rebuilding of the bridge.
In a press release, it was stated that these funds would serve as a vital down payment toward initial costs, with further assistance promised as the reconstruction efforts progress.
