A massive operation to locate people missing after the bridge collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday morning is underway in Baltimore, with rescuers searching for clues in the icy waters and hundreds of tons of metal skeleton that fell into the river.

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into the cause of the tragedy and to explain how the merchant ship came to collide with one of the piers of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

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Several cars were on the bridge at the time of the tragedy, as well as maintenance workers.

At least six people are being sought who are believed to have been repairing the bridge deck. Two people have been recovered alive – one is being treated for serious injuries, but the second has no injuries.

There is a risk that the pieces still remaining on the bridge skeleton could also fall into the water, endangering rescuers.

Even more dangerous is the temperature of the water, which is only nine degrees Celsius, making it difficult for anyone in the water to survive, especially if they already have injuries.

What we know about the tragedy

Videos of the incident show that the Dali ship around 01:30 on Tuesday (local time, 07:30 in Greece) collided with one of the pylons, causing the entire central section to collapse all at once.

The Dali had departed just an hour earlier from Baltimore for Sri Lanka. It had built up speed on course to exit into the ocean, but at 01:25, just before the collision, it appeared to slow down and go off course.

Here’s a longer and higher quality video of the Baltimore bridge collapse. Crash and collapse happens at 2:34 pic.twitter.com/Vyp3rQLLHl

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) March 26, 2024

Suddenly all its lights went out and it began to belch smoke from the funnel, as seen in video. immediately it hit the bridge at 15 kilometers per hour, which is considered quite high.

None of the crew, who are all Indians, and the two pilots (who would have taken the ship offshore) were injured.

The owner says there are several possible explanations for the accident, but with two pilots on board it seems an unusual occurrence. Experts have told the BBC that the accident may have been caused by an engine or even rudder problem, and even a generator blackout.

A container ship has struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore. Part of the bridge has collapsed. Multiple fire and police boats are on the way. pic.twitter.com/D6o04271k7

— Andrew Doyle (@doyle0213) March 26, 2024

A distress signal sent just before the collision interrupted the traffic and saved many more lives.

Vehicles are also in the water, although authorities have not reported anything about the occupants. It’s also not clear how many cars were on the bridge.

The FBI says there is no connection between the crash and terrorism.

The bridge, named after poet Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the U.S. national anthem, was one of the largest in the country. It was 2,632 metres long, about the same length as the Rio Bridge (2,880 metres). It opened to traffic in 1977,

The authorities stress that the bridge was safe, with no structural problems, and that it had passed all inspections.