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Baltimore Bridge collapse: Biden applauds Indian crew's Mayday alert
Biden acknowledged the potential liability of Grace Ocean, the owners of the Singapore-registered ship, but emphasized the need for swift action
All 22 crew members aboard the Dali, the vessel responsible for striking the bridge, have been reported safe / USACE
The Maryland state police have announced that the six individuals who went missing following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are now presumed dead. The devastating incident occurred on Mar. 26, plunging vehicles and eight construction workers into the waters of the Patapsco River. While two individuals were rescued on the day of the collapse, Jeffrey Pritzker, a senior executive at Brawner Builders, the employer of the construction crew, has sadly stated that the remaining six are presumed deceased, considering the depth of the water and the time elapsed since the accident.
Maryland authorities have concurred with this assessment, affirming that the recovery efforts will resume the following morning with the assistance of a team of divers. Pritzker revealed that the crew had been conducting work in the middle of the bridge when it unexpectedly gave way, emphasizing that such a catastrophe was entirely unforeseen. Despite meticulous safety measures in place, including cones, signs, lights, barriers, and flaggers, the collapse was a shock.
The Indian Embassy in Washington expressed deep condolences for the "unfortunate accident" involving the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. In light of the tragedy, the embassy has taken proactive steps to support those affected by establishing a dedicated helpline number.
Our heartfelt condolences to all affected by the unfortunate accident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
— India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) March 26, 2024
For any Indian citizens that may be affected/ require assistance, the Embassy of India has created a dedicated hotline: please reach out to us on +1-202-717-1996.…
All 22 crew members aboard the Dali, the vessel responsible for striking the bridge, have been reported safe. The White House has disclosed that President Joe Biden has engaged in discussions with federal, state, and local officials as part of the ongoing response to the bridge collapse.
These discussions involved key figures such as Pete Buttigieg, the US secretary of transportation, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both Democrats from Maryland, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.
Governor Moore informed reporters that the bridge, constructed in 1977, was deemed to be in compliance with regulations prior to the collision with the ship. However, it has been revealed that the same ship was involved in a prior incident at the port of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2016, where it collided with a quay while attempting to depart the North Sea container terminal.
Authorities disclosed that the ship issued a distress signal as it veered off course and appeared to experience power loss, a situation that Baltimore officials capitalized on to prevent additional vehicles from accessing the bridge. The Maryland Transportation Authority posted alerts indicating the closure of all lanes in both directions on I-695 Key Bridge due to the incident, later attributing the collapse to the ship strike.
"Personnel onboard the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel. As a result, local authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives,” said President Biden.
The people of Baltimore can count on us to stick with them every step of the way, until the port is reopened and Francis Scott Key bridge is rebuilt.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 26, 2024
We're not leaving until it's done. pic.twitter.com/Hsm4kpNRtP
President Biden said,” Everything so far indicates that this was a terrible accident. At this time, we have no other indication. No other reason to believe there’s any intentional act here.” He pledged that the federal government would bear the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge, which has also disrupted operations at a significant port for the nation. Biden stressed his intention for Congress to support this effort.
“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge and I expect the Congress to support my effort,” he added.
Responding to questions regarding the responsibility for the incident, Biden acknowledged the potential liability of Grace Ocean, the owners of the Singapore-registered ship, but emphasized the need for swift action, saying, "We're not going to wait for that to happen. We're going to pay for it to get the bridge rebuilt and opened."
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