BALTIMORE (AFP) – The bodies of two construction workers were found in the cold waters of Baltimore harbour in the United States (US) on Wednesday, trapped in their red pick-up truck after a giant cargo ship slammed into the bridge they had been filling potholes on, causing a thunderous collapse.
Maryland police announced the grim discovery at a press conference, adding that sonar shows what they believe are more vehicles trapped within the concrete and twisted steel debris of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Six of the eight-man construction crew are believed to have been killed, with four bodies yet to be found.
Police told a press conference that they were shifting to a salvage operation, removing the superstructure and then sending divers back in to recover the rest of the bodies.
Nearly the entire steel structure – crossed by tens of thousands of motorists each day – collapsed within seconds, cascading over the bow of the ship, blocking one of the busiest US trading ports.
There was no chance to evacuate the eight workers filling potholes on the interstate directly above the oncoming ship.
The two recovered bodies were found in 25 feet of water, Butler said.
Two others were pulled from the water alive in the moments after the collapse early Tuesday. One was uninjured, while the second was released from hospital on Wednesday, he said.
Four more workers are presumed dead, vanished into the swirling currents and crumpled tangle of wrecked girders and pylons.
