In a startling incident, 26 barges broke loose and floated uncontrolled down the Ohio River late Friday night, causing havoc and significant damage to marinas along Pittsburgh's North Side. Most of the barges were loaded with dry cargo, including coal, while three of the barges were empty. Despite the alarming situation, there have been no reports of injuries.

One of the affected marinas, Peggy's Harbor, suffered extensive damage as a result of the runaway barges, according to officials from Pittsburgh's Public Safety office. Additionally, Branchport Boat Club, located just downriver from Peggy's Harbor, lost nearly 90 boat slips due to the uncontrolled floatation of the barges.

As of Friday night, 11 barges were found pinned against the river bank near Brunot Island, while 14 more continued down the river. Disturbingly, six of these barges even went over the Emsworth Dam. Images captured and shared online depict several barges precariously resting alongside the dam.

The owners of the barges, Campbell Transportation, have stated that they are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding how the barges broke free. They attribute the incident to high water conditions and strong currents caused by recent flooding in the area. Gary Statler, Campbell Transportation's senior vice president for river operations, emphasized that their immediate priority is ensuring public safety and minimizing any potential environmental impact.

Campbell Transportation is collaborating with authorities, such as the Coast Guard, state police, PennDOT, and local agencies to assess the situation and address the aftermath of the runaway barges. The damage caused by the barges has left both Peggy's Harbor marina and Branchport Boat Club in a state of disarray, with boats destroyed and numerous boat slips lost.

Tony Ravida, the manager of Branchport Boat Club, expressed deep regret over the consequences of the accident, stating, "It is like losing a member of the family. Now we won't be able to open for business this year."

This incident comes on the heels of severe storms in the past few days that resulted in floodwaters returning to the Pittsburgh region. Combined with heavy rainfall from the previous week, this spring has become Pittsburgh's wettest start on record, according to the National Weather Service.

While uncontrolled barge incidents have occurred before in Pittsburgh, the recent collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has brought increased scrutiny to the potential risks these situations pose to the security of bridges. Authorities will likely pay closer attention to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

As investigations and assessments continue, it is clear that this unexpected event has wreaked havoc on Pittsburgh's North Side marinas and the boating community, leaving behind a long road to recovery.