Crews in Baltimore have started the daunting task of recovering wreckage from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, with the goal of reopening the busy waterway. Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard stated that the first segment of the bridge was being lifted just north of the shipping channel, comparing the effort to taking the first steps of a marathon. The collapse of the bridge has had significant economic consequences, affecting over 8,000 workers at one of the largest ports in the U.S.
The cleanup efforts involve cutting up and removing the north sections of the bridge to create a temporary restricted channel for vessels. Salvage teams are using gas-powered cutters to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will then be taken to a disposal site. The collapse occurred when the Dali, a giant container ship, suffered a blackout and struck the bridge, causing it to fall into the Patapsco River and killing six construction workers. The remains of two workers have been recovered, but the search for the others has been deemed too dangerous for divers to continue.
The victims of the collapse were identified as immigrants from Mexico and Central America who were working to maintain the bridge. Names of the victims include Jose López, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Miguel Luna, and Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval. The bodies of Fuentes and Cabrera were recovered, while the search for the other missing workers has been put on hold until conditions become safer. The tragedy has had a significant impact on the Hispanic community in Baltimore, particularly in neighborhoods like Highlandtown, Dundalk, and Glen Burnie.
Officials, relatives, and advocacy groups have expressed support for the victims’ families, with Governor Wes Moore addressing them in Spanish to convey their support. There are 377 people working on the recovery operation, with plans to increase the pace of the project in the coming days. The efforts to recover the wreckage and rebuild the bridge will continue in a task that officials have acknowledged will be a long road to recovery. The community is rallying together to support the families of the victims and honor the memories of those who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the bridge.
