A bridge in Baltimore, a city in the United States, has entirely collapsed into the Patapsco River after being hit by a container ship.

Baltimore City Fire Department says a column of the bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, was hit by the vessel this Tuesday and up to 20 people and several vehicles have fallen into the river

A number of casualties have been reported and there is now a large multi-agency rescue and recovery operation under way.

The director of communications of the Baltimore City Fire Department, Kevin Cartwright, also says a team of divers are carrying out search and rescue operations.