US Bridge Collapses After Ship Collision, Vehicles, People Fall In Water

A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore almost entirely collapsed Tuesday after being struck by a container ship, sending multiple vehicles and up to 20 people plunging into the harbor below.

Dramatic footage showed a 300-meter vessel hitting a footing of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending the steel-built structure crashing into the Patapsco River.

Lights from what appear to be vehicles can be seen on the road surface as the bridge warps and crashes in sections, with the third tranche cantilevering upwards before it, too, tumbles into the water.

Several small explosions can also be seen during the rapid collapse.

The 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer), four-lane bridge spans the Patapsco River southwest of Baltimore.

It is a major part of the road network around Baltimore, an industrial city on the US East Coast next to the capital Washington.