Two people died and 19 others injured after a Mexican Navy training ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday.
The incident happened late Saturday evening when the ship, with 277 people on board, lost power while maneuvering and crashed into the bridge abutment.
The Mexican Navy confirmed the deaths and stated that 22 crew members were injured, half of them critically.
The ship, a barque built in 1982, was sailing to Iceland when the incident occurred.
Witnesses described the moment of impact as chaotic, with panic on the ship and sailors hanging from the masts.
The ship’s masts were snapped, and debris fell into the East River.
“It was a terrifying sight,” said Nick Corso, a 23-year-old Brooklyn resident who witnessed the incident.
“Lots of screaming, some sailors hanging from the masts, looked like panic happening on the ship.”
The Brooklyn Bridge was closed for approximately 40 minutes after the incident but has since reopened.
The New York transport department confirmed that there were no signs of structural damage to the bridge.
The Mexican Navy expressed its commitment to the safety of its personnel and transparency in its operations. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
AFP
