19 Injured, Including 2 in Critical Condition
On the 17th (local time), a large sailing ship carrying graduates of the Mexican Naval Academy collided with the Brooklyn Bridge while sailing along the East River in New York City, resulting in at least two deaths and multiple casualties.
According to foreign media outlets such as the Associated Press, at 8:20 p.m. that day, the Mexican Navy training ship 'ARM Cuauhtemoc' struck the bridge near the Brooklyn Bridge, causing three masts to break in succession. The ship, which became entangled with the bridge, was gradually pushed toward the riverbank.
Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, confirmed the fatalities on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Of the 277 people on board, 19 were injured. Of those, two sustained serious injuries. And, unfortunately, two other injured individuals have died."
Videos of the accident posted online show the masts breaking after hitting the bridge and the ship drifting toward the riverbank. At the time, there were also many vehicles crossing the bridge.
CNN reported that the two fatalities fell from the masts.
According to local police and eyewitnesses, many of those on board were on the masts at the time of the accident. Some were reportedly left hanging by their harnesses (devices that secure the body to a rope) and waited to be rescued after the masts broke.
The ship, measuring approximately 80 meters in length and 45 meters in height, featured a giant Mexican flag, dozens of white sails, and colorful lights, drawing much attention even before the accident.
The Mexican Navy confirmed the accident involving the Cuauhtemoc on X and stated that it was cooperating with local authorities in New York to manage the aftermath.
The Cuauhtemoc was on a long voyage to train graduates of the Mexican Naval Academy. It departed Acapulco, Mexico, on April 6, carrying 277 people and was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 countries over 254 days, including New York. At the time of the accident, it was leaving New York for its next destination, Iceland.
The New York Police Department believes the accident occurred because the sailing ship experienced a mechanical failure and lost propulsion. After the accident, the ship was towed to a nearby pier with the help of a tugboat.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, is a famous landmark in New York, supported by two stone towers and spanning 490 meters. More than 100,000 vehicles and 32,000 pedestrians cross the bridge daily.
Immediately after the accident, traffic in both directions on the bridge was temporarily halted but has since resumed.
Mayor Adams confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge itself did not sustain any significant damage. Lincoln Restler, a city council member representing Brooklyn, stated, "This was a very reckless and careless accident," and added, "While I hope everyone is safe, considering the number of bridges in New York Harbor, the captain should not have put the passengers at risk."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
