Dramatic Photos from the Baltimore Bridge Collapse and Desperate Rescue Efforts

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Photo:JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The container ship Dalihit the bridge— which spans the Patapsco River via Interstate 695 — around 1:30 a.m., sending several cars into the water. Eight construction workers were also tending to the bridge when it was hit; as of noon ET,rescuers are still searching for six of them.

Here, dramatic photos from the scene as the rescue efforts continue in the frigid water. Stay tuned toPEOPLE’s liveblogfor more updates.

01of 15The Early HoursBaltimore bridge collapse photos.Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyThe 948-ft. container ship collided with the 1.6-mile bridge after issuing a “mayday” call after the freighter lost power, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who gave a press conference Tuesday morning.“We had officials that were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so that more cars were not on the bridge,” Moore told reporters. “Many of the vehicles were stopped before they got on the bridge, which saved lives.”“These people are heroes," the governor added.

01of 15

The Early Hours

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

The 948-ft. container ship collided with the 1.6-mile bridge after issuing a “mayday” call after the freighter lost power, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who gave a press conference Tuesday morning.

“We had officials that were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so that more cars were not on the bridge,” Moore told reporters. “Many of the vehicles were stopped before they got on the bridge, which saved lives.”

“These people are heroes," the governor added.

02of 15

Terrifying Moments

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty

Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty

03of 15A Desperate SearchBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockAt Tuesday morning’s press conference, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld told reporters that eight workers were repairing potholes on the bridge when the collapse occurred.

03of 15

A Desperate Search

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At Tuesday morning’s press conference, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld told reporters that eight workers were repairing potholes on the bridge when the collapse occurred.

04of 15No Evidence of TerrorismBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockAccording to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, “We are still investigating what happened but we are quickly gathering details. We haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack.”

04of 15

No Evidence of Terrorism

According to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, “We are still investigating what happened but we are quickly gathering details. We haven’t seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack.”

05of 15Continued EffortsBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockAs daylight came, rescuers had a clearer picture of the scene.

05of 15

Continued Efforts

As daylight came, rescuers had a clearer picture of the scene.

06of 15Difficult ConditionsBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock"This happened at 01:30 a.m. with limited visibility so we are working aggressively, considering the environmental temperatures as well as the water temperatures to try and rescue and perhaps recover individuals," Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department,told CNN.

06of 15

Difficult Conditions

“This happened at 01:30 a.m. with limited visibility so we are working aggressively, considering the environmental temperatures as well as the water temperatures to try and rescue and perhaps recover individuals,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department,told CNN.

07of 15Much Ground to CoverBaltimore bridge collapse photos.SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock"We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point and we will continue to be for some time," Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace shared in a press conference. “We have a large area that we have to search. This includes on the surface of the water, subsurface, as well as on the deck of the ship itself.”

07of 15

Much Ground to Cover

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

“We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point and we will continue to be for some time,” Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace shared in a press conference. “We have a large area that we have to search. This includes on the surface of the water, subsurface, as well as on the deck of the ship itself.”

08of 15Early StartBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockThe time of the collision made initial rescue efforts particularly hard given the darkness.

08of 15

Early Start

The time of the collision made initial rescue efforts particularly hard given the darkness.

09of 15The Key BridgeBaltimore bridge collapse photos.Kena Betancur/GettyThe Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977, and is 8,636-ft. long, making it a vital piece of Baltimore’s transportation system.

09of 15

The Key Bridge

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Kena Betancur/Getty

Kena Betancur/Getty

The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977, and is 8,636-ft. long, making it a vital piece of Baltimore’s transportation system.

10of 15Focus Is to ‘Save Souls’Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty“There were individuals on this bridge when the tragedy happened. We have our fire teams, our marine teams, our police and marine teams out there,” Gov. Moore said in Tuesday’s press conference. “Now with the sunlight coming up, we can actually put drivers in the water to try to save souls. And that’s where the focus is and will remain for us for quite some time."

10of 15

Focus Is to ‘Save Souls’

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

“There were individuals on this bridge when the tragedy happened. We have our fire teams, our marine teams, our police and marine teams out there,” Gov. Moore said in Tuesday’s press conference. “Now with the sunlight coming up, we can actually put drivers in the water to try to save souls. And that’s where the focus is and will remain for us for quite some time."

11of 15The WreckageBaltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM WATSON/AFP via GettyPieces of steel remained wrapped around the ship following the collision.

11of 15

The Wreckage

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

Pieces of steel remained wrapped around the ship following the collision.

12of 15

The Aftermath

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

13of 15From AfarBaltimore bridge collapse photos.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via GettyA helicopter circled the wreckage as the sun rose.

13of 15

From Afar

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

A helicopter circled the wreckage as the sun rose.

14of 15’Very Rapid’Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Rob Carr/GettyGov. Moore said the ship was moving at “a very, very rapid speed” at the time of the crash.

14of 15

‘Very Rapid’

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Rob Carr/Getty

Rob Carr/Getty

Gov. Moore said the ship was moving at “a very, very rapid speed” at the time of the crash.

15of 15’Never Imagined’Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via GettyFrom the neighborhood of Dundalk, residents watched the scene.A Baltimore resident named Jim, who lives about a mile away from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, toldSky Newshe awoke around 1:30 a.m. local time to the bridge’s collapse, calling it an “indescribable sound.““At first I thought it was a sonic boom from the aircraft,” he said. “I never imagined something like this could happen.“Stay tuned toPEOPLE’s live blogfor more updates.

15of 15

‘Never Imagined’

Baltimore bridge collapse photos.Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty

From the neighborhood of Dundalk, residents watched the scene.

A Baltimore resident named Jim, who lives about a mile away from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, toldSky Newshe awoke around 1:30 a.m. local time to the bridge’s collapse, calling it an “indescribable sound.”

“At first I thought it was a sonic boom from the aircraft,” he said. “I never imagined something like this could happen.”

Stay tuned toPEOPLE’s live blogfor more updates.

source: people.com