BALTIMORE — Investigators on Tuesday were trying to determine what caused an explosion aboard a cargo ship laden with coal as it departed Baltimore’s harbour for East Africa.

Officials said no one was injured in the blast Monday evening, which prompted a mayday call when it was reported near the site of last year’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Video of the explosion showed flames shooting high into the air, followed by a large plume of dark smoke billowing over the Patapsco River.

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The Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel was closed Tuesday morning.

BREAKING: Large explosion seen on cargo ship in the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore; no word on cause or injuries pic.twitter.com/vOPOj7JTgd — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 18, 2025

“The U.S. Coast Guard i

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