live from baltimore, this is bbc news. a city reeling from an "unthinkable tragedy" on the river. six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge — causing it to collapse. this is the moment the lighs went out on the dali — sending it into the bridge�*s path. two people were rescued, and one is in hospital, as the authorities continue to search the water. his welcome to our programme, we are live in baltimorejust south his welcome to our programme, we are live in baltimore just south of the tragic bridge collapse that has happened here. you can seejust over my right shoulder that scene of destruction. it is being cold an

unthinkable tragedy. that's what the mayor of baltimore has said this morning as six people are still missing, still being searched for by search and rescue operations. the collapse of this bridge comes as a shock to the city end to the state. rescuers, as we said, are still searching those icy waters, the but as co—river where the bridge collapsed and we believe cars and people plunged into the water. it was hit by a singapore flagged container ship the dali command is thought to be construction workers who were on the bridge filling those potholes. two others were rescued, one was unharmed, that person refused treatment. one person is being treated in the hospital, we understand that person is in serious condition. —— patapsco river. this is the moment of the collision, the cargo ship hit the pier on the left of the screen. a report by the coastguard said the vessel was propulsion and the crew informed

authorities they no longer had control of their vessel. we expect a press conference from the national transportation safety board that is carrying out investigation into what happened. we hope to hear more details. authorities say there were no structural problems with this bridge. all shipping and out of the port of baltimore, one of the most important here in this region, has been suspended until further notice. you can see the planned route of the ship, the direction it took as it drifted into the bridge. more details coming up in a moment. graham satchell reports. just before 1.30 in the morning in baltimore and everything looks calm. then, this. look closely and you can see a large container vessel — it hits the key bridge and, like a pack of cards, the whole structure collapses.

ship hit the key bridge, sinking. the bridge is gone. within minutes, people were posting videos on social media. holy hell. as emergency services arrived, initial reports suggested there were vehicles on the bridge and as many as 20 people may have ended up in the water. we are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point and we will continue to be for some time. we have a large area that we have to search. this includes on the surface of the water, subsurface, as well as on the deck of the ship itself. at first light, the full scale of this tragedy became clear. the bridge completely destroyed, leaving tangled metal shards poking from the river. two people have now been rescued, one is in hospital with serious injuries.

the mayor of baltimore has declared this a mass casualty event. this is an unthinkable tragedy. we have to, first and foremost, pray for all of those are impacted, those families, pray for our first responders and thank them, all of them working together — city, state, local — to make sure that we are working through this tragedy. it shook the entire house. it was catastrophic. it's such a shame, it's so sad and ijust pray to god that nobody's dead. data from bbc verify shows the route of the vessel dali the route of the vessel the dali before the collisions. so there are questions — how could a container ship with two pilots and a full crew on board hit this bridge? it's now emerged the same vessel hit apia in antwerp in 2016. a pier in antwerp in 2016. the weather at the time is calm.

there was significant damage to the ship and the harbour. the francis scott key bridge is more than a mile long, the central section is 350 metres wide and has a height clearance of more than 50 metres, more than enough space for the largest container vessels to get through. it was built in the 19705. engineers say building regulations have subsequently changed and more modern structures may have withstood the impact. i don't know whether the bridge, this particular bridge, has any kind of retrofitting or increased resistance to shipping impacts since the 19705 when it was built. but it is possible that it hasn't. baltimore is a city in shock today. the white house has called this an horrific incident. the focus in the coming hours remains rescuing people from the icy waters of the patapsco river. graham satchell, bbc news. you see those stunning images. as we heard this is a city in shock. we

want to speak to the president of the baltimore city council nick mosby who isjoining us. thank you forjoining us. a tragedy for the city. can you tell us where you were when you found out what had happened? i when you found out what had happened?— when you found out what had hauened? . ., ., happened? i received a cool from the ma or of happened? i received a cool from the mayor of baltimore _ happened? i received a cool from the mayor of baltimore around, - happened? i received a cool from the mayor of baltimore around, i - happened? i received a cool from the mayor of baltimore around, i would l mayor of baltimore around, i would say, a little before three o'clock in the morning. —— received a call. he called and said the key bridge, which is a huge part of regional traffic in and around the city at collapsed. so i initially thought that maybe it was a slab of concrete or it was having some structural issue. but when i actually saw the video of it collapsing in a matter of seconds, i was in complete awe. i can imagine, nick. you've been at the scene pretty much all morning.

can you tell us what the sense is you are getting on the ground from residents and people you've been speaking to? residents and people you've been speaking to?— speaking to? obviously a really sombre moment. _ speaking to? obviously a really sombre moment. my _ speaking to? obviously a really sombre moment. my hat- speaking to? obviously a really sombre moment. my hat goes| speaking to? obviously a really i sombre moment. my hat goes off speaking to? obviously a really - sombre moment. my hat goes off to the hard—working men and women, the first responders, not only from baltimore city but throughout the entire region. bringing their different specialty units and apparatus to ensure that the sanctity of life is preserved, if we can save, if we can find and search like they have been doing, they have been literally working around the clock. last night was a very cold night in baltimore. the current started to pick up. the conditions are not ideal at all. but they didn't stop. it did not make them waver. they have constantly been after to try and find the six remaining folks that we think were on the bridge. we remaining folks that we think were on the iridge-— remaining folks that we think were on the bridge. we should say we are 'ust on the on the bridge. we should say we are just on the south _ on the bridge. we should say we are just on the south side _ on the bridge. we should say we are

just on the south side of— on the bridge. we should say we are just on the south side of the - just on the south side of the bridge, not in the location you are at the moment. can you give us any updates on the state of the investigation? you mention some of the challenges and the temperature and depth of the water as well. that is the and depth of the water as well. that is the main — and depth of the water as well. twat is the main challenge. the depth of the water there goes pretty deep. i know verified at least 60 feet. the temperature this morning when i checked, when i thought to check, was about 3k degrees command when you put in the wind chill factor as well as in the cold conditions, it is pretty frigid out there. the men and women, notjust our baltimore fire department and police department but from throughout the region have been working literally around the clock to ensure that we rescue and we find the victims of this horrific event.— this horrific event. absolutely, nick. it this horrific event. absolutely, nick- it is _ this horrific event. absolutely, nick. it is indeed _ this horrific event. absolutely, nick. it is indeed horrific, - this horrific event. absolutely, nick. it is indeed horrific, and| nick. it is indeed horrific, and thank you so much forjoining us. we

understand it is a very busy morning for you. great to have you on and we hope to speak to you later on as well. . ~ hope to speak to you later on as well. ., ~ , ., hope to speak to you later on as well. ., ~ i. ,., hope to speak to you later on as well. ., ~ i. . hope to speak to you later on as well. . ~ ,, . we hope to speak to you later on as . well._ we heard well. thank you so much. we heard there from — well. thank you so much. we heard there from the _ well. thank you so much. we heard there from the president _ well. thank you so much. we heard there from the president of - well. thank you so much. we heard there from the president of the - there from the president of the baltimore city council, his reaction, his disbelief as he found out the entire bridge had collapsed. that is something we have heard resonating through the press conferences with local and city officials who are shocked to see what has happened to this bridge and also residents we have spoken to as well. the governor of maryland wes moore held a press conference a few hours earlier speaking about what had happened and the investigation ongoing. let's listen to what he had to say. this morning our state is in shock and i want to take this moment to speak directly to the people of our state. to ourfirst responders, i'm in awe of you, i'm in awe of your courage,

i'm in awe of your strength, i'm in awe of everything that you do for us. you saw a crisis and said, "what can i do to help?" our response teams are doing everything in our power to the rescue and recover the victims of this collapse literally as we speak. people who as we speak out there, our divers, ourairassets, people right now working to save lives and are doing it because the state asks. we will update the public as the work continues. to our partners inside and outside of government, i know this has been a long night. we started coordinating immediately after key bridge collapsed. we have been standing together every step of the way from our county leadership to our city leadership to our state leadership,, to our federal leadership. and i'm grateful to call each and every one of you notjust colleagues but am grateful

to call you friends. and to the people of baltimore, and each and every one of the 6.3 million marylanders who call our state home, i recognise that many of us are hurting right now, are scared right now. and so i want to be very clear about where everything stands. we are still investigating what happened but we are quickly gathering details. the preliminary investigation points to an accident. we haven't seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack. our administration is working closely with leaders from all levels of government and society to respond to this crisis and notjust by addressing the immediate aftermath, but also by building a state that is more resilient and a state that is more safe. that is our pledge, and that's our commitment, and we are going to give that commitment.

keep that commitment. and lastly, to the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones, all of our hearts are broken. we feel your loss. we are thinking of you. and we will always be thinking of you. we pray for the construction workers who were on the key bridge and we pray for everyone who has been touched by this tragedy and their families and all of their loved ones. but, maryland, we will get through this because that is the maryland spirit and that is what maryland is made of. we are maryland tough and we are baltimore strong. so in the face of heartbreak, we come together, we embrace one another and we come back stronger. that's what we have always done, that's what we will continue to do and that's what we are going to get done together.

those words from the maryland governor wes moore. that was about two hours ago that he spoke with local and city officials surrounding him there. we are expecting perhaps some new information in this hour. they will be a press conference from the national transportation safety board that we are watching out for and we heard president biden will speak at the white house at 12:30pm local time about 15 minutes from now and we will listen in live to both of those to see if any new information is revealed and to hear what the president has to say. we know he has promised any federal funds needed to help maryland, to help baltimore with this tragedy. now let's speak to nii attoh—okine who is the chair of the school of engineering at the university of maryland. nii, thank you forjoining us. great to have you with us. i want to ask of this massive bridge, but of course this huge ship as well, 300

metres long, 96,000 tonnes. can you tell us how the impact of this ship would have brought this bridge down? first and foremost the bridge is in very good condition, from the work and studies we have done here at the university of maryland college we knew that the superstructure is very good. but then in terms of where they can be high risks, considering they can be high risks, considering the width of the ship, the container ship, what i can say is the size of the ship really matters. and for such an impact it would have major destruction to major infrastructure anywhere. but really what we have to look at is the after—effects of this accident. this will cause major disruption in our traffic. re—routing out traffic through the

tunnels, especially in the transportation of hazardous material because that bridge has been the main bridge which we transport most of our hazardous material. so this will change the traffic direction. and again, this accident, like the governor said, and again, this accident, like the governorsaid, relates and again, this accident, like the governor said, relates to the resilience of our infrastructure. it makes it clear that all infrastructure is interdependent. one problem can cause others. that’s one problem can cause others. that's an important — one problem can cause others. that's an important point, _ one problem can cause others. that's an important point, if— one problem can cause others. that's an important point, if i _ one problem can cause others. that's an important point, if i could - one problem can cause others. that's an important point, if i could just - an important point, if i could just jump an important point, if i could just jump in the command ask, you mention first of all how important this bridge and this port is. give us an idea of what role they play in the movement of goods in this area. the brid . e movement of goods in this area. twa: bridge carries about 31,000 movement of goods in this area. tue: bridge carries about 31,000 or more vehicles per day. and then the disruption of the shipping

operation, transfer of commodities and the supply chain is very critical at this port. so once this accident occurred it is going to change our traffic pattern. not only in baltimore, not only in maryland, but around the eastern corridor of the us. and this again, we have another major effect on our transportation. t another major effect on our transportation.— another major effect on our transportation. another major effect on our transortation. ., ., ., ., transportation. i also want to ask ou, ou transportation. i also want to ask you. you said _ transportation. i also want to ask you, you said this _ transportation. i also want to ask you, you said this will _ transportation. i also want to ask you, you said this will open - transportation. i also want to ask you, you said this will open up i you, you said this will open up conversations about the reliability of infrastructure in the us. we know that at this point, this appears to be an accident, that proportion was lost on the ship, that it hit this column. what could have been prevented there when you talk about reliable infrastructure? meiiii. prevented there when you talk about reliable infrastructure?— reliable infrastructure? well, what i said is i want _ reliable infrastructure? well, what i said is i want a _ reliable infrastructure? well, what i said is i want a resilient - i said is i want a resilient infrastructure, infrastructure which can withstand when there is an extreme event or accident. and again, some of these accidents are

due to human factors. you know, so, how do we work with the shipping and shipping organisation, the how do we work with the shipping and shipping organisation, the port authority and other shipping organisation, the port authority and other transportation facilities, bridge facilities that if there is an accident from one source it will not have major effects down the line? this is what one of the things we are going to learn from this accident. how again to protect our infrastructure, not one but the group of them because they are interdependent. and then this cascade effect is something we don't want to happen again. absolutely. really important point there, nii and thank you for bringing us your expertise on bbc news. . ~ bringing us your expertise on bbc news. ., ~ , ., we are following all of the latest developments here on the ground. we will look across the press

conferences as well and bring you the latest. head to our website bbc.com/ news where we have a live page being updated with all the latest information and analysis on the ground as well, and we will keep you up—to—date there and here on the channel as well. you're watching bbc news.

hello again. in gaza, fighting has continued between israel and hamas, despite the passing of last night's united nations security council resolution which called for an "immediate" ceasefire. the southern gazan city of rafah was bombed by israeli warplanes overnight, according to witnesses, while fierce gun battles raged around hospitals in the cities of khan younis and gaza city. yolande knell reports from jerusalem. no sign of a ceasefire here.

these homes hit by israeli air strikes on rafah in the very south of gaza overnight. and at the local hospital, this lady lists her losses. 16 members of herfamily, many small children. i don't have anyone left, she says. and there's despair at the world's reaction. what can the security council do, this man asks? nobody listens to them. there's massacre after massacre. meanwhile, further north, battles still rage between hamas fighters and israeli forces in and around gaza's biggest hospital. and israeli warplanes hit what they say are hamas targets after rockets were earlier fired at israeli towns. in many ways, a halt in fighting looks as far off as ever. just hours after the un security council passed its ceasefire resolution,

hamas told mediators that it wasn't accepting their latest truce proposal. israel says its demands are delusional. many israelis also feel let down by international diplomacy. last night, some relatives of the dozens of israeli hostages still held captive by hamas gathered again to plead for their release. it can't be a ceasefire without bringing them home. it's not possible. as the threat of famine looms in gaza, international airdrops of aid are stepping up. but locals say such efforts could be too little, too late. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. the wikileaks founderjulian assange faces a wait to discover whether or not he will be extradited to the united states — after the high court in london gave us authorities three weeks to provide assurances that he would not face the death penalty if sent there. mr assange faces extradition over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence

information, after the publication of thousands of leaked documents relating to the afghanistan and iraq wars. here's our correspondent ellie price. free julian assange! through every legal twist and turn, and there have been many, his supporters make their voices heard. althouthulian assange will not be immediately extradited, today was not a victory either. thejudges dismissed mr assange's attempt to appeal on the grounds that the us was trying to extradite him for his political opinions. what the courts have done has been to invite a political intervention from the united states, to send a letter saying it is all ok. i find this astounding. in 2010, through his wikileaks site, julian assange released thousands of confidential documents

which included evidence of the alleged killing of civilians by us forces in afghanistan and iraq. two years later, julian assange claimed asylum at the ecuadorian embassy in london, fearing he would spend the rest of his life in a usjail. but his incarceration here lasted seven years and in 2019, he was dragged out and arrested by british police. he's been in belmarsh maximum security prison ever since, fighting legal battles to stop his extradition. the us department ofjustice described julian assange's leaks as one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the united states, which they say put agents in afghanistan and iraq at risk of harm, torture or even death. they say the case against him has nothing to do with his political opinions and everything to do with his actions. if the usa does provide the assurances to the judges, including on ruling out the death penalty, thenjulian assange could

face extradition by earlyjuly. his only other hope would be an appeal granted by the european court of human rights. ellie price, bbc news, at the high court in london. let's bring you up—to—date on the latest on the bridge collapse in the united states in baltimore. i want to show you the scene in the white house. we are waiting for president biden to make some remarks about what has happened in baltimore. he will deliver some comments on the collapse of the francis scott key bridge in the roosevelt room in the white house. he has already said that federal resources will be made available, any federal resources that the authorities in maryland needin that the authorities in maryland need in response to that disaster which has been called an unthinkable tragedy by the mayor of baltimore. let's bring you up—to—date with the latest details as we have them from

the authorities there. they are saying that they are still looking for six people who are missing, unaccounted for. we think they were construction workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge when that cargo ship which was heading for sri lanka, but was singapore flagged, hit one of the, part of the bridge, and it then collapsed very quickly, as you can see in those pictures there. extraordinary scene is that bridge just collapsed and several people were sent into the water. huh have been recovered, one was fine and didn't need hospital treatment, one did go to hospital, but six are still unaccounted for. we are going to hear from still unaccounted for. we are going to hearfrom presidentjoe biden. we expect him in three or four minutes but we will see whether the president on time. but of course we will bring you at live on bbc news.

stay with us. hello. over the next few days, mother nature is going to throw a bit of everything at us. a real mixed bag on the way, as we often say, from gusty winds, heavy showers, hail, thunder, some sunshine in between, too. and in fact, the satellite picture is already looking very dynamic. and if we look at this conveyor belt of cloud, that's actually the jet stream aloft and it's allowed the colder air to dig in from the northern climes. that's going to help to build those big shower clouds over the coming days. now, as far as the evening is concerned, rain will be sweeping into southern parts of the uk. in the north i think there'll be still some sunshine, late sunshine around across scotland, but cloudy generally speaking. and then through the course of this evening that rain will be travelling northward. so most of us will get some rain, some of it will be heavy,

particularly in the north and for example in northern ireland could be 30 or a0 millimetres of rain. so really quite soggy. and then by the end of the night that weather front is across scotland, it's cold and miserable here in the morning, 6:00, three degrees there in glasgow, snow across the mountaintops there. and then to the south of that, something a little bit drier temporarily before the next weather front sweeps in. see these speckles here in the rain? those are the showers carried by that increasingly strong wind out of the south west, already gale force around some of the coasts. so it's going to feel quite chilly, but the sun is strong this time of the year. so it will be coming between the clouds as well. then, if anything, on thursday, the winds will get even stronger as this low sweeps in so quite a few isobars there. strong winds to the south of that area of low pressure. and in fact, inland, we could be talking about 50mph gusts. that's pretty strong for this time of the year. gales around coasts, windy in the north, too. and again, those big shower clouds producing sudden downpours with hail and thunder, but sunshine in between as well. and it will feel chilly in those heavy showers and the gusty winds as well.

on friday, i think the winds are going to be a little lighter. still a noticeable breeze, though, but there'll be fewer showers around on good friday. how about the outlook into easter? again, that mixed bag continues. i think by the time we get to sunday, i think across most parts of the uk, there should be some dry weather with a bit of sunshine too. bye— bye.

what this is bbc news, the headlines: six people are still missing after a cargo ship ploughs into a bridge in baltimore — causing it to collapse. this is the moment the lights went out on the dali sending it into the bridge's path. two people have been rescued — one is still in hospital — as the authorities continue to search the water. we're expecting to hear from president biden shortly. we will go live to the white house as soon as we see

we will go live to the white house as soon as we se— we will go live to the white house as soon as we se