US President Joe Biden has said the Baltimore bridge collapse was a “terrible accident”, and that the federal government will pay for the bridge to be re-built.

"The federal government will pay for the entire cost of that bridge," Biden said in an update to the media on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The president also said the search and rescue operation is the "top priority", and the army are on the scene to start removing the wreckage.

The bridge snapped and plunged into the Patapsco River at about 01:30 ET along with vehicles and people after a container ship crashed into it.

A huge search operation is under way for six missing people, authorities say, while two others have been pulled from the water.

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