Baltimore`s Key Bridge collapses

Rescuers were searching for at least seven people in the water

The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places

The bridge, which opened in 1977, spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast

This is a dire emergency, Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press

He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge