At least two people died and 20 were injured, four of them seriously, in the collision of the tall ship Cuauhtémoc, of the Mexican Navy, against the base of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday night.
The vessel, which was on a training and diplomatic promotion tour, was sailing along the East River when one of its masts struck the bridge's structure.
The collision caused panic among motorists and pedestrians traveling along the road, leading to an emergency response that involved multiple local agencies.
New York authorities confirmed that the bridge did not suffer structural damage and was reopened after a preliminary inspection, but the Cuauhtémoc was seriously damaged and its international voyage has been suspended.
An unexpected accident during the farewell
The vessel had set sail from Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people on board, including cadets, officers, and crew, on a voyage that included 22 ports in 15 countries.
On May 13, it docked at Pier 17 in southern Manhattan and was open to the public until May 17.
The accident occurred when it was about to set sail, shortly after 8:20 p.m. (local time).
According to witnesses and videos shared on social media, the main mast of the Cuauhtémoc struck the base of the bridge while the vessel was moving through the East River.
The loss of power during the departure maneuver would have caused the vessel to be carried by the current toward one of the pillars.
"I imagine that the ship lost power and was swept away by the current towards the bridge pillar," stated the chief of special operations of the New York Police Department, Wilson Aramboles, who also confirmed that there were sailors at the top of the mast at the time of the impact.
Dramatic testimonies and swift response
Numerous passersby witnessed the moment of the collision. Some recounted distressing scenes, such as a person suspended in a harness high up on the mast for over 15 minutes before being rescued.
Initially, the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, detailed that 19 people had been injured, two of whom were in critical condition, and that two others had died due to their injuries, although the number of injured has since increased, according to sources from the Mexican Navy.
"We pray for all those on board and their families, and we thank our first responders who acted quickly, ensuring that this accident was not much worse," stated Adams. He also confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge, while iconic and frequented by over 100,000 vehicles and 32,000 pedestrians daily, did not sustain structural damage and was reopened to traffic after being closed for approximately 40 minutes," concluded Adams.
Official reactions in Mexico
The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, deeply lamented the tragedy in a message shared on social media.
“We deeply regret the passing of two crew members of the training ship Cuauhtémoc [...] Our solidarity and support go to the families. I thank the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, for all the support extended to our fellow countrymen,” wrote the official on X.
The Secretary of the Navy confirmed the damage to the vessel and stated that, for the time being, the training voyage has been suspended.
The Secretariat of Foreign Relations announced that both the Mexican ambassador in the United States and the Consulate General in New York are providing assistance to those affected.
A symbol of the Mexican Navy
El Cuauhtémoc, known as the "Ambassador and Knight of the Seas," has been in service since 1982 as a training ship for the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar.
Each year, it conducts an international route to complete the training of the naval cadets.
The current tour involved a journey of 254 days, with 170 days of sailing and 84 docked in ports such as Havana, Reykjavik, Dunkirk, and Aberdeen.
The accident represents not only an irreparable human loss but also a symbolic blow to the Mexican Navy, which had deployed one of its most emblematic vessels as a floating ambassador for the nation.
The causes of the incident are still under investigation by naval and civil authorities from both Mexico and the United States.
As of the time this note was written, there are no further details regarding the fatal accident.
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