After the collapse of a bridge in Baltimore, USA, teams of rescuers set out to find survivors. The demanding eighteen-hour event was only partially successful. Rescuers and divers were faced with dangerous conditions.
Rescue operations after the collapse of a bridge in Baltimore were complicated by murky water, cold and debris.
| Photo: CTK/AP Photo/Steve Helber
Steel debris, reduced visibility and great depth. It was not only these obstacles that the rescue teams had to deal with as they tried to pull drowning workers out of the cold water. Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse in Baltimore. The structure fell into the river after a cargo ship crashed into it.
We wrote about the tragedy in Baltimore here:
In Baltimore, a road bridge collapsed after a collision with a freighter. They are looking for six people
Extensive rescue operation complicated by strong currents that moved debris, pieces of steel, vehicles and other unknown objects in the water to different places. Searching for survivors among them was very difficult. The water in the river is also very murky. According to experts, rescuers in such places can often see at a distance of only a few centimeters. They had to proceed as quickly as possible, because the low temperature gave the victims little chance of survival.
In addition, there were approximately 4,700 cargo containers on board the ship that crashed into the bridge, 56 of which contained hazardous materials.
Underwater danger
Rescuers also lost their lives during the event. Surface teams and divers were threatened by floating debris. Former diver FBI told the BBC that rescuers could get stuck under them or be crushed by pieces of floating metal. Everyone has to be very focused or someone will get hurt.
After the collapse of the bridge, an extensive rescue operation began:
Source: Youtube
“All it takes is one object to hit a person, and all of a sudden we have one rescuer trying to free another,” said Maryland State Police Col. Roland L. Butler.
Ominous darkness
Rescuers also weren’t sure exactly how many cars and people to search for in the Patapsco River. The whole situation was complicated by the fact that the bridge collapsed at night, specifically at half past two in the morning local time (06:30 CET).
In the dark, according to Rebecca Rouse from the American Tulane University, finding people in the water is very difficult. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” The Washington Post quoted the expert as saying. Although the rescuers used modern technology such as sonar, lights and cameras, even these devices do not guarantee 100% success.
The tragic event in American Baltimore affected the whole world:
Baltimore bridge collapse: It was like an earthquake, people described. They filmed the tragedy
Desperate efforts paid off in the beginning before all the complications. Immediately after the boat hit the bridge structure, teams pulled two people out of the water. Military and rescue boats as well as aircraft were involved in rescue and search operations. In addition to rescuers, firefighters, sailors and police officers participated.
Revoke the action
By late morning, rescuers still had hope that people from the bridge had survived thanks to air pockets or on the debris. However, after several hours of searching, they had to cancel the event despite their best efforts. “Changing outdoor conditions made working in the water dangerous for responding divers,” Butler said.
However, a further continuation of the event would probably not change anything anyway. According to experts, after several hours in the icy water, the probability that someone else will be found alive has dropped to a minimum.
Currently, experts on the scene have switched from a search and rescue operation to a rescue operation. The crews say it will take weeks to pull the debris out of the water. A crane and other large rescue equipment will have to help. Authorities also want to use underwater mapping technology to find all the vehicles as well as the bodies of the dead workers.
The reason for the crash
She hit the bridge freighter Daliwhich aimed at Sri Lanka. Even before the impact, the crew was able to issue an emergency call. Authorities are hoping that a data recorder recovered from the still-unsunk vessel will provide them with more information about the accident. Among other things, investigators want to find out if contaminated fuel played a role in the tragedy. This is precisely what causes problems with the main power generators on board.
