A tragic maritime accident unfolded in New York as a Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, leaving two dead and nearly 20 injured.
A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday as a collision between the Mexican Navy training vessel Cuauhtémoc and the Brooklyn Bridge led to the loss of two lives. In a contrasting development, at least 19 additional individuals reported injuries.
A tall sailing ship carrying 277 individuals encountered a power failure while navigating near the bridge, leading to a collision with the abutment on the Brooklyn side. Officials have confirmed that the ship's impressive 158-foot masts struck the bridge, resulting in a dramatic break and subsequent collapse onto the deck.
Video footage has surfaced depicting a chaotic scene where crew members were seen precariously positioned on the masts as they began to give way. Eyewitness Nick Corso reported to AFP that a considerable amount of screaming was heard, and multiple sailors were observed hanging from the masts.
Mayor Eric Adams has confirmed the deaths, noting that two of the injured individuals are currently in critical condition. All crew members have been safely accounted for in a positive development, with no reports of anyone falling into the water.
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge is set to reopen following inspections that confirmed the absence of any significant structural damage. Officials have determined that mechanical failures and a loss of power caused the accident.
The Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot training vessel, was built in 1982 to improve cadets' naval education. On April 6, it departed from Acapulco and embarked on a journey towards Iceland.
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico expressed her profound condolences in response to the recent tragedy, honoring the lives that were lost in service.
A vessel that lost all three masts has been successfully towed from the site of the incident. The Coast Guard in New York is currently investigating the incident.
Witness Kelvin Flores described a “commotion and chaos” scene as emergency crews made their way through congested streets to aid the injured.
A recent tragic accident has raised concerns about the safety of tall-masted vessels navigating under New York's iconic bridges.
