In Baltimore, the debris from the collapsed bridge that plunged into the river early Tuesday due to a ship collision has yielded two bodies, as informed by Col Roland L Butler Jr, superintendent for Maryland State Police.
Col Roland L Butler Jr revealed on Wednesday that the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge revealed the remains of a 35-year-old and a 26-year-old inside a crimson pickup truck submerged in the Patapsco River near the bridge’s midpoint. The missing construction crew, presumed deceased, hailed from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, Col Butler disclosed.
Governor Wes Moore offered solace to the bereaved families in Spanish, saying, “Estamos contigo, ahora y siempre,” translating to “We stand with you, now and forever.”
Meanwhile, the vessel had undergone routine maintenance on its engines prior to the incident, according to the Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard disclosed during a press briefing on Wednesday that authorities were notified of the vessel’s scheduled engine maintenance. However, no forewarning of any complications was relayed.
Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has embarked on an investigative journey into the aftermath of the bridge’s collapse in Baltimore. Governor Moore, accompanied by federal and local officials, boarded a Coast Guard vessel on Wednesday to analyze the path of the colliding vessel and unravel the circumstances leading to the crash, as stated by his office. The Governor’s objective is to extend support to the Coast Guard and other federal entities, express gratitude to first responders, and acquire a deeper understanding of the calamity.
Among the construction workers presumed deceased in Baltimore was a 38-year-old father of two who harbored aspirations of retiring in his native Honduras, as shared by his brother. Carlos Suazo recounted his brother Maynor Suazo’s 18-year residency in the United States, emphasizing his longing for a tranquil retirement in Honduras. Maynor was fondly remembered as the cherished youngest sibling among four sisters and four brothers.
“He possessed an eternal optimism and a forward-thinking mindset. He was truly a visionary,” Carlos Suazo reminisced. The last conversation he had with his brother was over lunch on Sunday, discussing arrangements for a family birthday celebration. Despite the grim circumstances, the family clings to hope for Maynor’s safe return.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asserted on Wednesday that it is premature to speculate on regulatory waivers for bridge reconstruction and port reopening. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden has advocated for the removal of any bureaucratic or financial impediments hindering the reconstruction timeline.
Buttigieg also directed a message to Republican lawmakers in Congress who might oppose federal funding for the endeavor, underscoring the bipartisan significance of infrastructure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg refrained from predicting the duration for the Port of Baltimore’s restoration or bridge replacement during a White House press briefing on Wednesday. Buttigieg acknowledged the five-year duration of the bridge’s original construction but emphasized that a comparable timeframe is not indicative of the replacement timeline.
“Past timelines are not indicative of future outcomes,” Buttigieg remarked. Vice Adm Peter Gautier of the Coast Guard assured the public of the stability of hazardous materials aboard the stricken vessel.
Gautier assured during the briefing that the vessel, carrying over 1.5 million gallons of fuel and numerous hazardous cargo containers, posed no threat to public safety. Despite the presence of hazardous materials, authorities have confirmed the absence of safety risks. “There is no cause for public concern,” Gautier affirmed.
Authorities in Singapore have pledged their cooperation with US authorities in investigating the bridge collapse. The vessel responsible for the collision, the Dali, sailed under a Singaporean flag. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore declared its collaboration with the ship’s management company, Synergy Marine Group, to furnish pertinent information for the Coast Guard’s investigation.
A routine inspection of the vessel in a Chilean port in 2023 revealed a discrepancy with the fuel heater’s pressure gauges, promptly rectified before departure, as disclosed by the Maritime Authority of the Chilean Navy. Previous reports indicated an issue with the ship’s propulsion and auxiliary machinery during the June inspection in Chile, though specifics were not provided.
The Chilean Navy clarified on Wednesday that the vessel underwent inspection in the port of San Antonio on June 27, 2023, wherein the illegibility of the fuel heater’s pressure gauges was detected. The issue was promptly resolved, allowing the vessel to proceed with its journey, as affirmed by the Chilean Navy.
The Dali underwent its most recent inspection by the US Coast Guard in New York in September 2023, with no discrepancies reported, according to Equasis.