A three-masted Mexican Navy sailing ship, the Cuauhtémoc, reportedly carrying around 200 people, has struck the Brooklyn Bridge on New York’s East River.
A search and rescue operation has been launched to pull people out of the water, fire officials told The New York Post.
The collision occurred just before 9 p.m., with all three of the ship’s 147-feet-tall masts striking the bridge and snapping as the vessel appeared to be moving backward.
X user @orenjinoir was standing on the waterfront in Brooklyn when the collision occurred and caught the moment on video.
The ship appears to strike some type of scaffolding or gantry on the underside of the bridge, which can be seen swinging in the aftermath.
There is no word yet on whether there are any casualties, but debris can be seen falling toward the deck of the ship, cinluding portions of the masts, lights, and rigging. The sails were not up at the time.
The Cuauhtémoc sailed into New York Harbor on Tuesday with dozens of naval cadets seen standing on the masts as others dressed in cultural Mexican attire awaited nearby.
A large Mexican flag was flying at the stern of the vessel when the collision occurred.
More follows…
