US begins removing rubble from collapsed bridge in Baltimore

You U.S began removing debris from the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore on Tuesday (26). This Thursday (28), two cranes arrived to begin the complicated operation of removing the twisted steel debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The operation will allow authorities to search for the remains of the four workers declared dead, authorities reported. A large part of the structure, where tens of thousands of drivers passed daily, fell into the Patapsco River, while eight Latin American workers were on the road repairing potholes. Two were rescued shortly after the bridge collapsed, while the other six were presumed dead. Divers found the bodies of two of them on Wednesday, but the search for the others had to be postponed because it was too dangerous, according to local authorities. The idea is to remove the rubble and then look for the bodies.

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Although the removal process has already begun, reopening the Port of Baltimore will take time. The reopening of the port is a priority for the government. “We are moving heaven and earth” to get it back up and running, said White House advisor Tom Pérez. The Federal Highway Administration has committed to providing an initial $60 million requested by Maryland for what Moore called “immediate response efforts and to lay the groundwork for a rapid recovery.” The disaster could result in the biggest marine insurance payout ever, according to London-based insurance giant Lloyd’s. The closure of the port also worries the local economy, as 140,000 jobs depend on port activity, affecting the national supply chain as a whole. To mitigate the impact, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will accept additional cargo.