The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has reignited memories of some of the worst bridge disasters in history. Six workers went missing when the bridge crumbled, with only two bodies recovered from the icy waters. The catastrophe could have been far worse if it had occurred during rush hour when numerous cars were crossing.
Between 1960 and 2015, there have been 35 major bridge collapses globally due to ship or barge collisions. In the 21st century alone, hundreds of lives have been lost in bridge disasters worldwide. Some of these tragedies were accidents, while others were a result of neglect.
One such disaster that bears a striking resemblance to the Baltimore bridge collapse is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Florida in 1980. A freighter crashed into the bridge’s support after a sudden gust of wind, causing a significant portion of the bridge to collapse into Tampa Bay. The death toll was high, with 35 people losing their lives, including those on a Greyhound bus that plunged into the water.
Another tragic incident occurred during the construction of the Cần Thơ Bridge in Vietnam in 2007 when a ramp collapsed, killing 54 and injuring 80. The collapse was described as the most catastrophic disaster in Vietnam’s construction history.
The Ponte Morandi bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy, in 2018 resulted in 43 deaths and 16 injuries. The collapse highlighted concerns about bridge safety across Europe, with reports indicating it was the 11th bridge collapse in Italy since 2013. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, with initial theories pointing to structural weaknesses and corrosion as possible factors.