No Filipino casualty reported in Baltimore bridge collapse —PH Embassy

NEW YORK - No Filipino citizens were hurt in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, according to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC.

In a statement sent to GMA Integrated News, Consul Mark Dominic Lim said that they have not received any report of any Filipino affected by the incident. 

"The Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. is closely monitoring the situation following the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, earlier today. As of 10:45 AM (US Eastern Time), no Filipino citizen on the bridge or the ship was reported injured or killed in the incident," said Lim. 

The Embassy is also inquiring about the possible presence of Filipino crew members aboard the Singaporean cargo ship that collided with the bridge.

Maryland and Baltimore have been placed under a state of emergency as search and rescue operations for the missing victims continue.

Authorities in Baltimore fear that the six construction workers who were fixing potholes and fell into the Patapsco River when the bridge collapsed may have died.

Initial investigations revealed that the ship sent a distress call, prompting the closure of the bridge before it collided with its structure.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation to determine what happened to the ship.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has declared that the incident is unrelated to terrorism. —VAL, GMA Integrated News