The six workers presumed dead in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge were all from Latin America, state officials in Baltimore have confirmed. The men were members of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge at the moment of the accident.
The search was called off late Tuesday (March 26) for survivors. Officials have indicated that they don’t expect to find anyone alive and consider the operation a rescue and recovery effort at this point.
The accident occurred when the container ship Dali crashed into the bridge after losing power early Tuesday morning, leading to the total collapse of the structure. A ship like the Dali’s losing power means the pilot was unable to steer the vessel. Eight people fell into the water initially, though two were quickly rescued.
Guatemala’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that two workers were nationals, though it did not name them. Meanwhile, a Reforma correspondent reported that a Mexican embassy spokesperson in Washington said one of the victims was a Mexican national.
Reports have identified Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, as one of the men on the bridge. Meanwhile, the Associated Press identified another one of the possible victims as Maynor Yassir Suazo, from Honduras. The full names of the other possible victims have not yet been released.
Jesús Campos, a construction worker and friend of the missing men, confirmed they were all from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. “It’s a difficult situation,” he said, speaking through a translator. “They were good people,” Campos said.