BERWICK, Pa. — The search continues for those still missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning in Baltimore, Maryland. Officials on every level are now responding to the tragedy.
"We're going to send all the federal resources they need as they respond to this emergency. We're going to rebuild that port together," said President Joe Biden.
Pennsylvania's top officials are now also speaking out. Newswatch 16 met up with PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll at an event in Berwick.
"Governor Shapiro has reached out to governor Moore early today to offer Pennsylvania's support. Our prayers to the families that are affected as a result of this tragedy," Carroll said.
It was around one thirty this morning that Maryland officials say a container ship lost function before it hit a support column- causing the bridge to collapse.
"It seems like there was some sort of a mechanical failure with the container ship that resulted in striking the pier. I don't know how you engineer around that," Carroll said.
About three million tons of cargo passed through the bridge last year. Carroll says the collapse will have major economic impacts
"The impact will be significant to the supply chain. The effects it will have on commuter traffic and commercial traffic it will have on the interstate system in Maryland will be significant. The challenges will be stark," added Moore.
Secretary Carroll says this tragedy also shines a light on bridges all across the country and here at home.
"We have 25,000 bridges in Pennsylvania, state bridges, and thousands more that are at the county and local bridges that are aging. The cost to maintain and repair those are significant, but it's an important assignment we have at PennDOT, and we take it seriously," said Carroll.
Carroll says Pennsylvania will offer it's support to Maryland as needed- just as it did for Pennsylvania back during the I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia last year.