US President Joe Biden reaffirmed federal support for rebuilding a collapsed bridge in the Baltimore area near Washington when he visited the site on Friday.
On March 26, a cargo ship collided with one of the support piers of the four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor, collapsing, killing six people.
Biden took an aerial tour of the wreckage on Friday.
“You know, from the air, I see a bridge falling apart. But here on the ground, I see a community pulled together,” he said during a press conference.
“Our top priority is reopening the port. It's one of the nation's largest shipping hubs. And it's America's leading port for importing and exporting cars and light trucks — number one.”
He said two channels have been allowed to allow the rescue operation. A third channel for commercial traffic will open by the end of April, and the full channel will open by the end of May, Biden added.
“We're going to move heaven and earth to rebuild this bridge as quickly as humanly possible. We're going to do so with union labor and American Steel.”
Biden added that those responsible for the collapse “will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to preliminary findings, there was a problem with the ship's power supply before the accident.
