Officials rush to shut down McKees Rocks Bridge after 23 barges break free in Pittsburgh - weeks after disaster that took down Key Bridge in Baltimore

Authorities have been forced to close down the McKees Rocks Bridge after 23 barges reportedly broke free from a tugboat on the Ohio River. 

McKees Rocks Police Department said just after midnight that they would be closing the bridge as a precaution. 

According to the department, there are currently a number of barges that have broken loose heading down the Ohio River. 

One local police scanner page said that there were an estimated 23 barges going down the river, with one striking a marina dock. 

In a statement, police said: 'There are number of barges broken loose headed down the Ohio River.

'They may or may not come into contact with sub-structure but we are not willing to take the risk. Please avoid this area until further notice.

It comes just weeks after a the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a container ship. 

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

Divers have recovered three bodies from the underwater wreckage, while the remaining three victims are still unaccounted for. 

Crews have been working to extract sections of the fallen bridge, including those entangled in a muddy mess at the bottom of the Patapsco River.