Plunge into the darkness

Body found as hunt for six road workers goes on | Ship was 'out of control' as it rammed support

- CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

FRANTIC efforts continued last night to locate at least six people who plunged into the river when a major bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed.

It was reported that one body was found but it was not confirmed if the person was one of the missing six-man crew fixing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when a fully-laden out-of-control container ship smashed into a support.

As worried families waited for news of their loved ones, Jennifer Homendy, head of the National Transportation Safety Board said the possibility of other people being in the Patapsco river - where the water temperature had been 8C - had not been ruled out.

She said: "Nobody is going by a number, they are just looking and they're searching." The 185ft-high bridge, which carried Maryland Route 695 traffic between Baltimore and Dundalk, folded into the sea as the ship that struck it caught fire, billowing smoke.

Rescuers quickly pulled two people from the water, one of whom was taken to hospital in a "very serious condition" said Baltimore City Fire Department chief James Wallace.

Videos of the crash show the ship, Dali owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd - losing power just before the collision, as its lights dimmed. Quick-thinking crew members sent a mayday signal and authorities were able to close off the bridge before it collapsed.

"It was also reported that the ship dropped anchors in a desperate bid to prevent disaster but still hit the bridge "at a very rapid speed".

Maryland governor Wes Moore said of the vessel's crew: "These people are heroes. They saved lives last night."