Unpacking the major bridge collapse in Baltimore

A major bridge in Baltimore collapsed early yesterday morning after a large container ship lost control and rammed into it, leaving six people missing and presumed dead.

What happened: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the bridge at around 1:30 am local time, allowing authorities to limit vehicle traffic and prevent larger casualties.

The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew filling potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spanned a total of 1.6 miles and was used by 12 million vehicles last year.

• It’s currently unclear what caused the Singapore-registered ship, called the Dali, to malfunction. According to Coast Guard officials, the vessel’s lights flickered on and off multiple times several minutes before it veered off course and struck the bridge.

👀 Looking ahead… The bridge collapse is widely expected to increase shipping costs and wait times along the East Coast for the next several months. Local officials have suspended all vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore – which handles $80 billion/year worth of cargo – until further notice, forcing other ports in the region to take on extra shipments.