Key Bridge tragedy: Two workers dead, two presumed in Baltimore disaster

Divers retrieved the bodies of two construction workers who died after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, United States. At the time of the catastrophe, the victims were in a truck that plunged into the river. The men were working on road repairs.

Divers from the United States found the bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Baltimore and 26-year-old Dorlian Castillo Cabrera from Dundalk, Maryland.

The names of two other missing victims, presumed dead, were also established. These are Miguel Luna, originally from El Salvador, and Mayor Suazo Sandoval, a citizen of Honduras who was the father of three children. The names of the other two victims have not been disclosed.

On Tuesday, rescuers spent many hours on the Patapsco River searching for six construction workers working on road repairs when a ship struck the bridge.

The American Coast Guard called off the search after sunset, stating that the low water temperature and the extended period since the disappearance indicate the workers are presumed deceased.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Jennifer Homendy, the Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that investigators boarded the 384-metre Dali, retrieved data from the ship's recorder, and commenced interviews with the crew.

Homendy revealed that the 56 containers onboard contained 764 metric tons of hazardous materials, including corrosive substances, flammable items, and lithium-ion batteries.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Key Bridge, was an iconic landmark in Baltimore. The arch bridge, which opened in 1977, was a significant engineering project to improve connectivity between the east and west of Patapsco Bay.

The viaduct was named after Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and poet who penned "The Star-Spangled Banner", the United States national anthem. Key is buried in Baltimore, underscoring his connection to the city.