In the aftermath of the devastating collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, officials have recovered the bodies of two construction workers who were on the bridge at the time of the incident.
The tragedy occurred after a 984-foot-long cargo ship - identified as the Dali - collided with one of the bridge's pillars, causing catastrophic damage as the 1970s structure collapsed into the Patapsco River.
The Dali cargo ship involved in the collision had 21 crew members and two pilots on board at the time of the crash.
A senior National Transportation Safety Board hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material, some of which are in the water.
On Wednesday (March 27), Maryland Governor Wes Moore described the collapse as "a global crisis", emphasizing the crucial role of the Port of Baltimore in the national and world economy.
Gov. Moore also highlighted the port's significance in handling cars and farm equipment, stressing the urgency of addressing the aftermath of the collapse.
Officials have confirmed that six people are presumed dead following the catastrophe.
The victims have been identified as hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, according to Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland L. Butler Jr.
On Wednesday evening, it was reported that two bodies had been recovered from the river.
CNN reports that the two men were construction workers named Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala.
The victims were identified as construction workers filling potholes on the bridge and were found trapped in a red pickup truck submerged in approximately 25 feet of water.
Recovery efforts for the remaining four workers have been paused (as of this writing) due to safety concerns arising from additional vehicles encased in concrete and debris. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will resume the search for additional remains.
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the incident, chaired by Jennifer Homendy.
The NTSB has received six hours of voyage data from the ship, and the investigation is expected to take 12 to 24 months to complete. The board has also provided a detailed timeline of events prior to the collision, which can be read here.
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the challenges ahead in rebuilding the bridge, emphasizing that it will not be "quick or easy" but assuring that it will be done. Additionally, President Joe Biden has said in a press conference on Tuesday that his team will move "heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible."
"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect [...] Congress to support my effort," the POTUS added.
Buttigieg outlined four main focus points: reopening the port, addressing supply chain issues, rebuilding the bridge, and managing traffic until the bridge is reconstructed.
Our thoughts continue to go out to the city of Baltimore and anybody impacted by this tragedy at this time.
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