A gangway that was part of a ferry dock on Sapelo Island, Georgia, collapsed on Saturday, leading to around 20 people falling into the water. Seven individuals are believed to have died as a result of the incident, with the number of injured individuals and the extent of their injuries being unknown. The U.S. Coast Guard and several state and local agencies responded to the incident, conducting search and rescue missions using boats and helicopters equipped with side-scan sonar. The Coast Guard continued searching for survivors on Saturday night, emphasizing that it was not in a recovery phase at that time.
The collapse occurred during a celebration of Gullah Geechee culture on the island, with the Sepalo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society hosting their annual Cultural Day event. President Joe Biden expressed condolences and promised federal resources to aid those affected by the tragedy, including the Gullah Geechee community. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also expressed sadness over the incident and called for prayers for the victims and their families.
The associated dock where the gangway collapsed is used by public ferry vessels, the University of Georgia’s research trawler, and some small boats. Sapelo Island is located about 72 miles south of Savannah on the Atlantic Coast. The incident is currently under investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
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