Cargo ship explosion raises alarm in Baltimore Harbor

A cargo ship caught fire and reportedly exploded in Baltimore Harbor near the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Monday evening, August 18, 2025. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management confirmed the incident, stating that no injuries or property damage beyond the vessel itself had been reported. Witnesses described seeing a large fireball erupt from the ship's forward hold, while maritime experts suggested that the vessel involved was the MV W Sapphire, a bulk carrier on its way to Mauritius. Fire crews and U.S. Coast Guard units responded to the scene, establishing a safety zone of 2,000 yards around the site of the explosion. The incident occurred in the same vicinity as the Key Bridge, which had collapsed in March 2024 after being struck by a container ship. This earlier incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and significant traffic disruptions at the Port of Baltimore. The ship was creating heavy smoke from an under-deck fire, although not all witnesses confirmed an explosion. Notably, some residents expressed alarm, noting the shaking of their homes at the moment of the blast. The Coast Guard has since reported that the fire was contained, and the ship is being escorted away from the affected area by tugboats. The cause of the fire and explosion remains under investigation, highlighting ongoing maritime safety concerns in the region, especially following the Key Bridge collapse. Local officials are monitoring the situation while commending the response teams for their efficiency in managing the crisis.