A barge reportedly collided with a bridge in Galveston, Texas, causing oil to spill into the ocean.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning on the bridge leading into Pelican Island, located just north of Galveston, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Ronnie Varela, with the Galveston’s Office of Emergency Management, said crews were working to clean up the spill.
TEXAS 🚨 A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island.
— Toria Brooke (@realtoriabrooke) May 15, 2024
No injuries have been reported, and officials reportedly shut down the bridge leading into Pelican Island.
The Texas A&M University at Galveston campus is located on Pelican Island, and the collision reportedly caused a power outage at the university.
“The Pelican Island Bridge is closed to all traffic at this time due to a barge strike. Electricity has been restored and additional updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. The next scheduled update will be at 1200 [sic],” the school wrote on Facebook.
As of 12:00 p.m., the school’s power had returned, but the bridge was still closed to traffic.
BREAKING: A barge has hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, local officials say, causing an oil spill and closing the only roadway connected to Pelican Island. There are no reported injuries. pic.twitter.com/5jpoAmk66o
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 15, 2024
Arial footage of the wreckage shows concrete from the bridge on top of the barge and oil leaking away from the vessel following the collision.