WASHINGTON — More than 18 hours after a bridge collapsed in Baltimore, crews are suspending search and rescue operations for workers who were on the bridge when it fell.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore had a catastrophic collapse after a cargo ship apparently lost control and crashed into a support structure. At least eight workers were on the bridge filling potholes when it collapsed. Two of those people were rescued, and one of them went to the hospital.
As of 7:30 p.m., six workers remain missing in the Patapsco River. Officials say due to the time lapsed and the conditions of the water, it is highly unlikely that the individuals will be found alive. Crews will now be transitioning from search and rescue to recovery efforts.
Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police, said in a press conference Tuesday evening that divers would return to the area at 6 a.m. Wednesday when challenging overnight conditions are expected to improve.
The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to health experts, in water temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees, death can occur within one to three hours.
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