Biden Administration Allocates $60 Million for Cleanup After Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Thousands of relief workers with huge crane ships moved towards Baltimore in the United States on Thursday (Mar 28) to carry out a massive cleanup, which was deemed as ‘highly dangerous’ and ‘unprecedented’ by some experts.
Massive Cleanup Efforts
- The clean-up was initiated after efforts to find dead bodies of people who went missing were stopped.
- Officials had recovered two construction workers’ dead bodies from a submerged truck and four people remain missing or are presumed to be dead.
- Divers are no longer able to operate near the mangled bridge debris which has encased submerged vehicles.
Deployment of Resources
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday morning (Mar 26) after being hit by a massive cargo ship. Several floating cranes were deployed by the US Navy, including one which can lift 1,000 tonnes. The US Army Corps of Engineers will send more than 1,100 engineering specialists and experts to start removing the debris which has crippled the Port of Baltimore.
Government Response
Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that it is a “very long road ahead” as the Biden administration sanctioned a federal aid of $60 million after the deadly collapse. The governor emphasized the collaborative efforts between government and industry to investigate the area, clear the debris, and shift the cargo ship.
Three-Step Cleanup Process
Officials outlined a three-step effort to remove the debris, including removing steel trusses from the shipping channel, lifting and moving bridge pieces, and clearing concrete and steel from the river bed. The duration of the cleanup remains uncertain due to the challenging conditions divers face in the frigid waters.
Survivor Testimony
The wife of a construction worker, Julio Cervantes, revealed that the workers were on a break inside their cars when the bridge collapsed. She expressed gratitude for her husband’s survival despite not knowing how to swim.
