Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan, Kathleen Magramo and Antoinette Radford, Mar 26: Rescue workers in Baltimore are searching for as many as seven people after a major bridge in the city's port was struck by a container ship early Tuesday, officials said.

It is an "active search and rescue" situation, the city's fire chief said, and the number of missing people could change.

Two people have been saved from the water so far, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.

Video shows the collapse of the 1.6-mile-long, four-lane bridge after it was hit by the vessel. An official told CNN conditions were unsafe for rescuers due to objects hanging from the structure, freezing conditions and limited visibility.

The bridge extends over the Patapsco River and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor. It is an essential link to Interstate 695, or the Baltimore Beltway.

No indication of "terrorism" or intent in Baltimore bridge collapse, police chief says

Baltimore Police said there was no evidence that the ship collision that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was intentional.

“There is absolutely no indication that there's any terrorism, that this was done on purpose,” Chief Richard Worley said at a news conference.

The FBI said that it was joining the investigation into the cause of the collision.

Rescue crews have determined there are vehicles in the Patapsco River following the bridge collapse.

“Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” said Fire Chief James Wallace. “I don't have a count of that yet.”

Wallace said they are waiting to make sure that the ship is secure and stable before investigators board it.

“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said.