• Source:JND
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A Mexican Navy training vessel collided with the 141-year-old Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday evening, shearing off the tops of its towering masts and killing two people and injuring 17 others, of whom two were seriously hurt, New York City officials reported.

The ARM Cuauhtémoc, a tall sailing ship that serves as a training vessel for cadets, was on a promotional tour of New York City when the mishap took place. The accident happened when the ship navigated along the East River and tried to pass under the historic Brooklyn Bridge a primary artery connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn which has served as a city symbol since being completed in 1883.

Eyewitness videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment as the Cuauhtémoc’s masts scraped against the underside of the bridge. A number of crew members wearing sharp white sailor outfits were spotted dangling from the ship’s crossbeams, while panicked bystanders near South Street Seaport rushed to safety as the vessel drifted off course.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed at a late-night press conference that all 19 injuries took place on board the ship, though the complete circumstances are still under investigation. Four of the hurt are in critical condition. “The situation could have been far worse,” Adams said, praising emergency responders for their swift action. “Our hearts go out to those hurt, and we are in close coordination with the Mexican Navy and federal agencies.”

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The Mexican Navy confirmed through a social media site X (previously Twitter) statement that the Cuauhtémoc had damaged masts and would not make its intended journey. There were 277 individuals on the ship, which had set off from Acapulco on April 6 and was going to call at 22 ports in 15 nations, including destinations in Europe and the Caribbean. “The Secretary of the Navy reaffirms its commitment to the safety of its personnel, transparency in operations, and the ongoing training of future officers of the Mexican Armada,” the statement said in Spanish.

Though the Brooklyn Bridge traffic was not immediately stopped. City officials have verified that there was no real structural danger to the bridge. Local and national maritime officials, in collaboration with Mexican authorities, have opened a formal inquiry into the cause of the accident.

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