Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge — which spanned the city's Patapsco River into the Baltimore Harbor — collapsed early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship crashed into the structure. Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D-Md.) has declared a state of emergency as rescue efforts are underway searching for six people who fell into the water upon collision.
In preliminary investigations, the cargo ship — which was found to be chartered by freight operator Maersk — was found to be suffering mechanical issues, leading to what is considered to be an "accident" at this time.
Tuesday's early morning events have disrupted shipping inflows into the Port of Baltimore. Officials are working to redirect freighters to other East Coast ports.
For updates and new information, follow along with Yahoo News' live coverage of the bridge collapse:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/live/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-live-updates-after-container-ship-collision-114855033.html
Or watch an on-the-scene livestream through Yahoo Finance's YouTube channel as public officials react to the event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Unuxb9ecqk&pp=ygUSeWFob28gZmluYW5jZSBsaXZl
Editor's note: This article was written and updated by Luke Carberry Mogan.
Video Transcript
BRAD SMITH: Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship, causing vehicles to plunge into the water. Rescue operations remain underway with crews searching for at least seven people, who are suspected to have fallen into the water. Two people were rescued, with one transported to a trauma center in a very serious condition, according to authorities.
In a tweet, Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and mentioned the mayor's office is in close conversations to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration. Here is a live shot amid those ongoing rescue operations.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge could cause a disruption for shipping at a port that consistently ranks among the top 10 busiest ports in the US. Shipping giant Maersk confirmed chartering the vessel this morning. The bridge allows commercial ships to enter into the Port of Baltimore, which is the largest US port for handling cars and light trucks.
Our thoughts are certainly with all of those who are impacted by this event. And we'll continue to monitor the ongoing investigation and bring you the latest on Yahoo Finance.