US gives Maryland $60 million in relief to rebuild Baltimore bridge

The U.S. government authorized $60 million in relief to Maryland for a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore after being struck by a cargo ship.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is giving funding for emergency work after the Francis Scott Key Bridge was struck by Dali, a 984-foot Singapore-flagged ship that lost power when attempting to leave the Baltimore Harbor. 

“These funds serve as a down payment toward initial costs, and additional Emergency Relief program funding will be made available as work continues,” DOT said in a statement. 

The funds will provide help as the state government works on the reconstruction and repair of the bridge. 

The ship, which carried around 4,700 containers, hit the bridge in the early morning hours on Tuesday after losing propulsion. The incident left six people dead. The collapse of the bridge halted traffic in one of the busiest U.S. ports.