Severe flooding has struck the Midwest, exacerbating an already challenging situation for residents grappling with a heat wave. Over the weekend, torrential rains led to significant flooding in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and record water levels in Iowa, surpassing those seen during the historic floods of 1993. The flooding caused the collapse of a crucial railroad bridge that connects Iowa and South Dakota, disrupting the transport of commodities and materials vital to the region's economy.

South Dakota's governor has expressed concerns about the long recovery process ahead, highlighting extensive damage to roads and bridges. \"We did lose a Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge,\" the governor stated, emphasizing the bridge's importance for trade and transportation between the two states. The collapse of the bridge over the Big Sioux River is expected to have lasting impacts for months to come.

National weather officials report that parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa have experienced rainfall amounts eight times above the typical average, with more rain forecasted in the coming days. This situation raises alarms for further flooding and infrastructure challenges in the region.

In a separate incident, a ship that lost power and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland back in March has finally departed Baltimore. The vessel, which had been stuck under bridge debris until it was refloated last month, is now en route to Norfolk, Virginia, where it will undergo repairs and have its remaining containers removed.