Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge collapses after large cargo ship collision. Watch video

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the city of Baltimore, US, reportedly collapsed following a collision with a Singapore-flagged ship, as confirmed by the Maryland Transportation Authority early Tuesday.

According to a statement posted on social media platform X by the MTA, the incident, referred to as the "I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike," led to the closure of the interstate highway lanes in both directions. The MTA advised drivers to steer clear of the route over the Patapsco River, terming it an "active scene."

Earlier notifications from the MTA had indicated the closure of interstate lanes in both directions due to an unspecified "incident" on the bridge, with traffic being diverted accordingly.


A spokesperson from the Baltimore Police Department informed NBC News that there were potential individuals in the river following the incident.

"At 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge," Detective Niki Fennoy stated.

MarineTraffic, a ship monitoring website, displayed a Singapore-flagged container vessel named the Dali as being stationary under the bridge early Tuesday.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr reported the incident and affirmed ongoing rescue operations. Olszewski urged for thoughts and prayers for those affected, as expressed on X