The recovery of two men from beneath the Baltimore bridge, following its collapse due to a container ship collision early Tuesday, was confirmed on Wednesday. The victims, identified as 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes of Baltimore, originally from Mexico, and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Dundalk, Maryland, originally from Guatemala, were discovered in a red pickup submerged in the Patapsco River near the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Officials announced their discovery Wednesday morning and personally informed their families by the afternoon.
Four other construction workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse are still missing, feared dead. These workers hailed from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, showcasing the tragedy’s international impact. Authorities have ceased search efforts, believing the remaining victims’ vehicles are trapped within the bridge’s collapsed debris.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, echoing a sentiment of continuous support. This tragedy not only claimed lives but also significantly impacted one of America’s busiest ports, halting operations and causing widespread disruptions.
Investigators have since turned their attention to the Singaporean-flagged container ship responsible for the crash, working to uncover the sequence of events leading up to the disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is involved in this meticulous process, reviewing both the vessel’s black box and interviewing its crew.
The incident has prompted a wide-ranging response, from governmental condolences and legislative action in Maryland to address the economic fallout, to community-led crowdfunding efforts raising substantial support for the victims’ families. The bridge collapse has cast a spotlight on the vital role of port workers and the far-reaching implications of such catastrophic events on global supply chains and local economies.
