Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Six people presumed dead — Coast Guard

US Coast Guard says six people are missing and presumed dead after a container hit the Baltimore Key bridge, causing it to collapse.

Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard said that the remaining missing men were presumed dead based on the temperature of the waters they had fallen in and the length of time they had been underwater.

The Coast Guard said it had suspended its search and begun a recovery effort.

The bridge, which is more than 2.6km (1.6 miles) long, was destroyed after the vessel hit a support.

Earlier, officials said the ship suffered a “power issue” and issued a distress call moments before the crash.

Boats and helicopters were part of a huge search and rescue effort searching for the six missing people. Two others were pulled from the water, with one in a serious condition.

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Authorities say they were part of a construction crew repairing potholes at the time the bridge snapped.

The focus is now turning to the investigation into what went wrong, with a team of transportation safety experts hoping to board the stricken ship and recover its data recorder.