The spouse of a construction worker who survived the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is sharing thoughts on her husband's fortunate survival, given his inability to swim.
Julio Cervantes was among the eight construction workers present on the bridge when a cargo ship collided with a pillar, leading to the bridge's collapse into the Patapsco River on March 26.
He and another worker were rescued, while the bodies of two others, identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, were recovered on March 27.
The remaining four individuals have not been located but are presumed deceased, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
"All the men were taking a break in their vehicles when the boat struck. It's uncertain if they were warned before the impact," shared Cervantes’ wife, who opted not to disclose her name, with NBC News on March 28.
"My husband doesn't have swimming skills. His survival is truly miraculous," she emphasized.
Cervantes’ wife mentioned that her brother-in-law was among the two men whose bodies were retrieved, without mentioning his name. She also noted that her nephew was among those still unaccounted for.
"We've been unable to sleep, anxiously awaiting news about our loved ones," she expressed.
Meanwhile, the mother of Hernandez Fuentes expressed shock over her son's demise.
"My heart aches deeply; I can't find the words to describe it," said Obdulia Fuentes Ortiz to NBC4 Washington on March 28.
She recounted receiving a call from her daughter-in-law informing her of the accident.
"At that moment, I didn't realize the severity of it," she said. "(But) upon arrival and seeing the collapsed bridge, I felt a piercing pain in my heart."
A recovery operation was terminated on March 28 due to hazardous conditions, officials reported.
Before the mission shifted to salvage, dive teams recovered two bodies from a red pickup truck approximately 25 feet beneath the Patapsco River on March 27.
The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera. The fate of four others remains presumed dead.
"We currently do not anticipate finding any survivors," stated Coast Guard Adm. Shannon Gilbreath during a March 26 press briefing.
A 985-foot vessel collided with the bridge early on Tuesday, causing its rapid collapse. Two individuals were rescued — one in stable condition who declined treatment and another critically injured and in critical condition.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, speaking on YEPPOST on March 27, disclosed meeting with the families of the victims, describing the six workers as "individuals who simply went to work yesterday to address potholes."
"They had no inkling that their workday would turn into a tragic event," Moore remarked. "As I spoke with their families and prayed with them, they reminded me of who these individuals were. They were fathers, sons, husbands — relied upon by their families."
Moore pledged full support for a search and rescue operation, transitioning to a recovery mission as necessary.
"We're committed to deploying every available resource to bring closure to these families," he affirmed.
While U.S. officials have not publicly named the victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed two Guatemalans among the missing.
Though not identified by name, the ministry specified their ages as 25 and 36, hailing respectively from San Luis and Camotán.
"Among the six missing workers, it is believed there are individuals of Mexican, Honduran, Salvadoran, and two Guatemalan origins," the ministry stated in a translated NBC News release. "They were all employed by a company that reported the incident to the Maryland Department of Transportation."
The Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy in the U.S. likewise stated in a release that the workers were of Mexican, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran nationality, according to NBC News translation.
María del Carmen Castellón informed NBC News affiliate Telemundo 44 that she was the wife of Miguel Luna, one of the employees scheduled to work on the bridge at the time of its collapse.
"On March 26, they simply inform us that we must be patient, as they are currently unable to provide any information," she relayed to Telemundo 44.
Castellón disclosed that her spouse, a 49-year-old construction worker and father of six from El Salvador, was among those affected.
"We're utterly devastated, our hearts shattered, as we remain uncertain whether they've been rescued," she lamented. "All we can do is anxiously await any updates."
NBC News was informed by his brother that Maynor Suazo, a father of two originally from Honduras, was also believed to be missing.
"The only hope we cling to is the possibility of seeing his body," Suazo’s brother expressed. "We yearn to lay eyes on him, to locate him, to ascertain whether he's alive or deceased, because we're completely in the dark."
Suazo’s family was notified of his disappearance between 3 and 4 a.m. on March 26, but as of Tuesday evening, they hadn't received any further updates.