Authorities in Maryland have initiated salvage operations following a tragic incident where a cargo ship collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this week. The collision resulted in the collapse of the bridge, leading to the presumed deaths of six individuals.
During the search and recovery operations, two bodies were discovered, identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala. These workers were tragically trapped in a red pickup truck submerged in approximately 25 feet of water.
Efforts to recover the remaining four workers have been temporarily halted due to safety concerns caused by the encasement of vehicles in concrete and debris. Once salvage operations clear the area, divers will resume the search for additional remains.
The US Navy's Supervisor of Salvage and Diving has been enlisted to lead the salvage operations, with over 1,000 US Army Corps of Engineers personnel mobilized to assist in clearing the critical shipping channel affected by the bridge collapse.
The National Transportation Safety Board is spearheading the investigation into the incident, interviewing crew members and collecting evidence to determine the cause. The investigation is expected to span 12 to 24 months.
Maryland officials are evaluating the cost of rebuilding the bridge, with 90% of funding to be covered by the Federal Highway Administration's emergency fund. The state's Department of Transportation has already requested $60 million in federal funding for cleanup efforts, while marine insurance companies are anticipated to bear significant liability costs.
