Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott demands media stops using video of bridge collapse after snapping at reporter for asking when it would be rebuilt: 'It's traumatizing our community'

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has asked that media outlets stop using the video showing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing. 

The Dali crashed into the bridge in the earlier hours of Tuesday morning, with footage showing the bridge crumble into the Patapsco River.

Speaking to CNN, Mayor Scott told the outlet: 'I am going to be the first to ask that CNN and everyone else stopped showing the video.

'No one needs to see the possibility of their family member being severally injured or otherwise over and over again. It's just traumatizing our community.' 

Five vehicles are currently submerged in the river, with six construction workers unaccounted for who had been working on the bridge when it went down. 

Maryland authorities are using sonar to search for people who fell into the 47F water as they were working to repair potholes on the 185-foot bridge when it collapsed.

Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency Tuesday morning following the catastrophic collision, which occurred at about 1.30am. 

The ship was 20 minutes into its journey when it slammed into a support column on the bridge. 

The Democrat said the ship's crew managed to issue a Mayday before it crashed into the bridge, which allowed officials to stop cars from going on the bridge. 

'We're thankful that between the 'mayday" and collapse that-that we had officials who were able to-to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge,' Moore added.

President Joe Biden, who will speak to the country about the collapse later today, said on X: 'This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

'I've directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident.'

President Joe Biden, announced that the government would pay the full cost to replace the bridge and insisted it was an accident. 

Biden vowed to move 'heaven and earth' to get one of the world's busiest ports reopened.

'We're going to get it up and running again as soon as possible. 15,000 jobs depend on that port. And we're going to do everything we can to protect those jobs,' Biden said in remarks at the White House. 

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said eight people were on the bridge when it collapsed, and two of them were rescued from the water, with one declining medical treatment and the other being taken to the hospital. 

Wiedefeld said: 'We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge, contractors for us.

He said the workers were 'basically doing some concrete deck repair', but said they did not know how many vehicles were involved.

Officials have since said they have spotted five vehicles under water thanks to infrared and side-scan sonar technology - three passenger vehicles, a cement truck and a fifth vehicle.

It remains unclear what led to the crash. Video shows the ship going dark seconds before the collision, suggesting a power failure on board. 

While another said: 'It's a question that needs answering at some point, but the mayor's answer was on-point. There are still people unaccounted for…' 

It still remains unclear as to why the cargo ship crashed into the Key Bridge long before the morning commute, or how many people might be in the waters of the busy harbor near a key port. 

Initial reports have pointed to a loss of propulsion or power on board just prior to the collision.  

Rescuers pulled two people from the water by mid-morning and searched for more. One was unhurt, the other suffered injuries, officials said. 

One official called it a 'developing mass casualty event.'

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

It tumbled into the water almost instantly — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

'Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of an action movie,' Mayor Scott said said earlier, calling it 'an unthinkable tragedy.' 

The collapse is almost sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic.

'Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,' state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.

Highway signs as far south as Virginia warned drivers of delays associated with the closure of the bridge.

Fire Chief James Wallace said authorities 'may be looking for upwards of seven people' but said that number could change. 

Other officials declined to give figures. It was not clear if the two people who were reported rescued were included in the seven cited by the fire chief.

Authorities said a crew of unknown size was working on the bridge at the time of the collapse and that sonar had detected cars in the water, which is about 50 feet deep. 

The water temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit before dawn Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Scott effectively won Baltimore's mayoral election in June 2020 when he the Democratic nomination for the role. In the city, Democrats outnumber Republicans ten to one. 

He ran a campaign focused on youthful energy, progressive ideas and experience. Scott pledged to tackle longstanding challenges in the city such as gun violence and substance abuse. 

Scott has been a city councilman since 2011 and became council president in 2019. He emerged victorious from a field that included more than 20 Democrats, including incumbent Mayor Bernard C. 'Jack' Young and former Mayor Sheila Dixon. 

At 36, Scott was the youngest of the mayoral Democratic front-runners. He was once mentored by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and was tabbed for lieutenant governor by an unsuccessful candidate in 2018. 

The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. 

The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet wide, according to the website.

Hours before the collision, Mayor Scott delivered his state of the city address in which he reiterated plans to tackle crime and homelessness as well as need to clean up Baltimore's harbor.  

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to get federal resources deployed. The FBI was on the scene, but said there was no credible information to suggest terrorism. President Joe Biden was briefed. 

Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel. No Maersk crew and personnel were on board. The collapse caused Maersk share at the Nasdaq Copenhagen to plummet two percent in early Tuesday trading. 

Last year, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo worth $80 billion, according to the state. In addition to cargo, more than than 444,000 passengers cruised out of the port in 2023.