Baltimore
Bridge collapse: workers from Latin America missing
There were eight construction workers on the bridge at the time of the accident. photo
© Steve Helber/AP/dpa
A father from El Salvador goes to work in Baltimore – and never returns. In addition to him, other people from Latin America are missing.
Among those missing after the bridge collapsed According to official information, there are migrants from several Latin American countries in Baltimore, Maryland. Two Guatemalans, aged 26 and 35, have been missing since the accident, the Central American country’s foreign ministry said.
The immigrant organization Casa said one of its members was also missing. He is a father of three from El Salvador who has lived in Maryland for more than 19 years. He went to work on Monday evening and never returned home.
CNN reported, citing the Mexican consul in Washington, Rafael Laveaga, that Mexican citizens were also missing. How many is not known. “We know our people are affected,” Laveaga told reporters. “They are also the ones who will rebuild the bridge – the Latinos.”
Eight construction workers on the bridge
According to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, eight construction workers were on the bridge repairing potholes at the time of the accident. Two people were saved. The US Coast Guard announced on Tuesday evening that it was suspending the active search for survivors due to the low water temperature.
A container ship rammed the four-lane, more than 2.5 kilometer long car bridge on Tuesday night, causing it to collapse. According to initial findings, there was a problem with the ship’s power supply before the accident.
According to US authorities, the crew managed to inform authorities via distress signal that they had lost control of the ship. Officials on land were apparently able to stop traffic and prevent more cars from getting onto the bridge.