President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with some of the relatives of the six construction workers who tragically lost their lives in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. The White House confirmed that this meeting will take place during Biden's visit to Baltimore on Friday.
Last week, the bridge collapsed after a cargo ship struck one of its support pillars, causing it to fall into the water and disrupt the port of Baltimore, a crucial hub for trade.
Tom Perez, the White House director of intergovernmental affairs, has been in contact with the families of the victims. He described the families as inconsolable and emphasized the urgent efforts to recover the remaining four bodies still trapped in the wreckage.
Perez mentioned that the White House is collaborating with various government agencies, including US Citizenship and Immigration Services, to assist the families. They are working on addressing a range of needs, such as coordinating visits to the United States for some relatives and repatriating the body of one victim.
During an interview, Perez shared the heartbreaking sentiments expressed by the families, with one spouse pleading, 'I just want his body.' He acknowledged the profound impact of the tragedy on the families and emphasized the importance of ensuring their well-being.
Perez highlighted the commitment of the administration to support the families and continue the search and rescue operations. He expressed solidarity with the families and emphasized the administration's dedication to addressing all their needs during this difficult time.