The U.S. Coast Guard patrols near the cargo ship Dali as it sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge.Photo:Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Search efforts have been suspended Tuesday evening in Baltimore following thecollapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“So this evening, at about 7:30, we are going to suspend the search and rescue efforts. The coast Guard is not going away,” added Gilreath. “None of our partners are going away, but we’re just going to transition to a different phase. "
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath, Commander Fifth Coast Guard District, speaks in Dundalk, Maryland, on Tuesday.AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., Maryland State Police secretary, echoed similar sentiments.
“At this point, like the admiral said, we’re going away from the search and rescue portion to a recovery operation. The changing conditions out there have made it dangerous for the first responders, [and] the divers in the water,” said Butler. He said efforts will resume Wednesday morning.
“At 0600 hours tomorrow, we are hoping to put divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to recover those six missing people” he explained.
View of the vessel striking the bridge.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
After confirming that thesix members of a construction crew still remain missing, Gilreath spoke about the difficulties search and rescue crews have faced in their mission.
“We got very difficult water temperatures,” he said. “You have structures from the bridge in the water than can move with the tides and currents making that dangerous for divers and people in the water to actually do recovery. And we do not want to injure any of these first responders in this recovery effort. We absolutely want to be as safe as possible for everyone involved in this.”
Steel frame from the the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of a container ship.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
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The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after the cargo ship Dali collided with it. The Dali remains in the water underneath some of the wreckage as rescuers and investigators continue their efforts.
source: people.com
