Following the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, it has been reported that some of the missing individuals are Mexican nationals, as confirmed by Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section of Mexico's Embassy in Washington. Laveaga did not specify the exact number of missing individuals who are Mexican nationals during his statement to the press near the scene on Tuesday.
Responding to a question from a reporter regarding the backgrounds of the victims, Laveaga acknowledged that individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador were involved in the incident. He emphasized the embassy's presence to assist their citizens affected by the tragedy.
Laveaga mentioned that the crew working on repairing sections of the bridge, including filling potholes, consisted of Latino workers who would also be involved in the reconstruction efforts. However, he noted that it was premature to confirm the nationalities of all the victims at that time.
Expressing condolences for the unfortunate event, Laveaga highlighted the unpredictable nature of accidents. The Guatemalan Foreign Ministry also disclosed that two of the missing construction workers were from Guatemala.
As the search and rescue operation continues, the US Coast Guard has announced the suspension of active rescue efforts for the six individuals still unaccounted for after the bridge collapse.