Select Language:
After a collision between a huge cargo ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday, authorities are now searching for searching for 20 individuals who have fallen into the river.
Experts have highlighted the live risks they must be facing now. CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam explained that the temperature inside the water and the land impacts the speech operation.
He reported that the water temperature in the Patapsco River is about 48°F (8.89 C), while the air temperature is about 46°F (7.78 C). Even though the air is currently colder than water, the water temperature is not overly cold, staying at 50°F, which can be lethal. Cold water drains the body heat around four times quicker than cold air.
Statistics show that a person can survive for one to three hours in water at this temperature. The main concerns for experts are hyperthermia and cold shocks, which can occur when the body is in contact with cold water without protection.
Earlier, the Director of Communications for the Baltimore City Fire Department, Kevin Cartwright, said the temperature at the port is around 30°F (-1°C) at 1:30 am ET.
Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace reported that at least two people have been rescued till now, one of whom is uninjured, and the other person has sustained some serious injuries.
While authorities are currently searching for more people.
Add us on ChatGPT
Add us on Perplexity
