Baltimore Bridge Collision: Indian Crew Praised For Swift Action By US President Biden, Maryland Mayor That Helped Save Many Lives

US President Joe Biden commended local authorities for their swift response during the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident in Baltimore, one of the nation's busiest routes, which collapsed on Tuesday (26 March) after being struck by a large freighter.

Biden also acknowledged the crew of the ship, all of whom were Indians as per a report by NDTV.

"The personnel on board the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel, as you all know and have reported. As a result, local authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives," Biden stated in his address.

"We're incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the scene," the US President added.

On Tuesday, the Singapore-flagged container ship Dali, departing from Baltimore with full cargo bound for Sri Lanka, collided with a concrete pier supporting the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Within seconds, almost the entire bridge collapsed and plunged into approximately 50 feet of frigid water below.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore hailed the Indian crew as "heroes" for their timely warning, which enabled authorities to halt traffic and prevent more vehicles from being on the bridge during the collision.

Just moments before the crash, the ship issued a Mayday call, warning that it had lost power. This prompted authorities to quickly shut down traffic to the bridge, potentially saving lives.

A CCTV footage shows the ship going dark twice in the minutes before the crash. A puff of smoke can also be seen before the collision.

Although all 22 crew members were unharmed and accounted for, six repairmen on the bridge are still missing.

Biden also announced that the federal government would cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge.

The collapse is expected to have a significant impact on the region. Traffic around Baltimore will be affected by the loss of the bridge, while shipping could also experience long delays due to the debris now obstructing the waterway.