Maryland responders search river after collapse of Baltimore bridge

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): U.S. President Joe Biden said Maryland will have any federal resources it needs during rescue and reconstruction efforts. He instructed his team to "move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible." The president also voiced his intention "that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge."

Biden also said the cargo ship lost power before smashing into the bridge. Personnel onboard informed the state transportation department that they could not control the vessel,  allowing local authorities to shut down the bridge just before the crash. 

EARLIER REPORT (9:30 a.m.) The Francis Scott Key Bridge fell into the Patapsco River around 2 a.m. on Tuesday after a cargo ship hit one of its supports. Authorities are looking for upwards of seven people on Tuesday morning. It was not immediately clear how many cars were on the bridge at the time of the accident, officials said. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Coast Guard is on the scene aiding in search and rescue, adding “there are no indications this was an intentional act.”

How are search-and-rescue efforts going? Authorities emphasized that the search was ongoing during a press conference early Tuesday morning. Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace described the incident as covering a large footprint. Two people had been pulled from the water, one of whom was transported to a trauma center in very serious condition, he said. “Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.