Six people missing after cargo ship hits Baltimore bridge causing collapse 

The operators of the ship issued a mayday call moments before the crash that took down the bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span, Maryland’s governor said.

Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports on Tuesday. Picture: WJLA via AP

A container ship lost power and crashed into a major bridge in the US city of Baltimore early on Tuesday, causing it to snap in several places and plunge into the river below.

The ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to break apart like a toy.