Two people died and nearly two dozen were injured when a Mexican Navy ship, on an international charity tour, lost power and collided with the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night (17).
The collision happened just before 8:30 p.m., near Brooklyn Bridge Park, as horrified onlookers watched helplessly as the massive ship, known as Cuauhtémoc, with nearly 300 sailors on board, advanced toward the 142-year-old bridge and crashed into it. The collision caused the ship’s three towering masts to break upon impact, while crew members were left dangling in the air.
According to Mexican Navy authorities, a total of 22 crew members were injured so far, with at least 11 of them in critical condition. Two people on board the ship died as a result of the collision.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams commented on social media on Sunday morning (18) about the fatal accident.
“We are praying for everyone on board and their families, and we are grateful to our first responders who quickly sprang into action, ensuring this accident was not much worse,” Adams said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the New York City Department of Transportation states that the Brooklyn Bridge was not damaged by the collision and that traffic is flowing normally.
Vessels moving nearby have been instructed to proceed at low speed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, while the Cuauhtémoc remains at Pier 36 on the East River for damage assessments and further evaluations.
The Cuauhtémoc, a training ship on an international charity mission, was about to dock and was heading to Iceland when the collision occurred.
Authorities say the ship’s captain lost control of the vessel, and Adams stated on Sunday morning that the ship had lost power. The ship’s masts broke upon hitting the underside of the bridge, and pieces fell onto the deck.
Authorities reported that 277 people were on board the ship and that no one fell into the water, even though some sailors were hanging from the masts’ safety harnesses after the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene and will begin its investigation, but preliminary information indicates that there was likely a mechanical problem with the sailing vessel, according to authorities.
The New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit and SCUBA were among the first responders to arrive at the scene.
The Mexican ship was described as a “goodwill ship” that has been sailing the waters since 1982.
The Cuauhtémoc is about 90 meters long and 12 meters wide, according to the Mexican Navy. The ship’s main mast is 48 meters tall, according to the Mexican government.
Every year, the ship departs at the end of classes at the naval military school to complete cadet training.
The ship had scheduled stops at 22 ports in 15 countries, totaling 254 days, 170 of them at sea.
Fonte: abc7ny.com