A major bridge in the US city of Baltimore has entirely collapsed into the Patapsco River after being hit by a container ship.
Authorities say rescuers are searching for at least seven people in the water, while two people have been rescued.
The fire department says a large vessel hit a column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at around 01:30 ET (05:30 GMT)
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Video shows the bridge breaking up and quickly plunging into the water.
The bridge is 3km (1.6 miles) long and is part of the major 695 highway orbital that encircles Baltimore.
The port of Baltimore near the bridge is the largest in the US for specialised cargo.
Shipping experts described the accident as a “major disaster” which will “create significant problems on the US East Coast for US importers and exporters.”
Some 21,000 units of cargo have to go through other ports in the region, and multiple merchant vessels are now trapped in the port of Baltimore
The experts say it will be a big issue for shipping in the region, leading to some delays and added costs. However, from a global perspective, it will not have a significant impact.
Editor: Ken Eseni
