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Container ship at the scene of the accident

Photo: Mike Segar / REUTERS

After the bridge collapsed in the US city of Baltimore, investigations into the cause of the accident have begun. The NTSB said the ship's data recorder from the container ship that rammed the structure had been recovered. The data recorder is of particular interest for reconstructing the event.

The search for the missing people is still ongoing. However, authorities believe they are no longer alive. On Tuesday evening, the US Coast Guard announced that the search for survivors would be suspended due to the low water temperature and darkness. The current and debris in the water are dangerous for the rescue workers. The only thing left to look for is the bodies of the six people.

Several Latin Americans missing

According to Maryland State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, eight construction workers were on the bridge repairing potholes at the time of the accident. Two people were rescued on Tuesday, but there was still no trace of six others. According to official information, among them are people of Latin American origin.

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. It is a father of three from El Salvador who went to work on Monday evening and did not return home.

Emergency call made

CNN reported, citing the Mexican consul in Washington, Rafael Laveaga, that Mexican citizens were also missing. How many is not known. "We know that our people are affected," Laveaga told reporters. "They are also the ones who will rebuild the bridge - the Latinos."

On Tuesday night, a huge container ship rammed a support pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship's crew had made an emergency call before the collision, which may have saved lives - because emergency services on land stopped the traffic and prevented more cars from getting onto the bridge. Nevertheless, large parts of the bridge collapsed as steel girders weighing tons were bent like thin wire due to the enormous force. According to the AP news agency, there were only about 90 seconds between the emergency call being received and the bridge collapsing.

bbr/Reuters/dpa/AP