Francis Scott Key Bridge hit by cargo ship; rescue effort underway

In comments which will resonate powerfully for Australians and Sydneysiders, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has described the profound relationship between locals and the bridge which until last night dominated their harbourscape.

“When you think and live in Baltimore, this bridge is iconic,” Mayor Scott told CNN. “This bridge is older than me, [and] we don’t know a time, many of us, without looking into the harbour and seeing the iconic bridge.

“People are shaking; this is an unthinkable and unspeakable tragedy.”

The mayor said that in the months ahead, the world would see the resilience of Baltimore on display.

“I’ve heard direct from President Biden: his administration is going to be here to see it through.

“I know that our governor and our city and our county and our other state and congressional leaders are going to be here to see it through.

“This is Baltimore,” Mayor Scott added. “We overcome challenges and we overcome folks doubting us all the time.”

The mayor stressed that the situation in Baltimore remained “a search and rescue operation. We see the Coast Guard helicopters that are still flying over us and across, we see the boats just behind us in the water and the bridge.

“We think about our residents that were on that bridge, those folks that we’re actively searching for right now and their families who are holding on to hope that they’ll walk back into the door later.”