FLASH: More than 20 persons trapped in water in US after Baltimore Bridge collapse

FLASH: More than 20 persons trapped in water in US after Baltimore Bridge collapse

At least 20 people are feared to be in the water after a bridge collapsed into a river in the United States’ city of Baltimore following a ship strike.

“We understand up to 20 individuals may be in the Patapsco River right now as well as multiple vehicles,” Kevin Cartwright of the Baltimore Fire Department told CNN, adding that officials were dealing with a “mass casualty multi-agency incident.”

Reports have it that a large section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the Patapsco River after being hit by a ship, the authorities in the largest city of the US state of Maryland confirmed earlier.

Footage shows a 1.6 mile-long part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge falling into river in Baltimore after it was hit by the ship.

The collapse happened at around 1.30am local time (5.30am UK time).