Baltimore bridge collapse: 6 workers missing presumed dead
BALTIMORE, USA - The six people who were missing after the Key bridge collapsed are now presumed dead, and the US Coast Guard has said the search for survivors has been suspended.
"Based on the length of time that we've gone in this search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature... at this point we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive," US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath told a press conference.
Water temperatures Baltimore harbor are believed to be around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius).
Roland Butler, superintendent for Maryland State Police, said on Monday evening that the search and rescue mission was transitioning to one of search and recovery.
Officials said eight road workers repairing potholes were believed to have been on the bridge at the time of collision and collapse, which was around 1:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge will not be quick or easy.
"This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure," Buttigieg said at a news conference in Baltimore. "It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive."
Buttigieg thanked first responders, including those still in the water as he spoke, and offered comfort to those "who woke up today to the news that no one wants to receive." This is an excruciating day for several families," he said.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said at the same news conference that he had spent time with the families of victims. "The strength of these families is absolutely remarkable," he said.
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