At least seven people have died after a section of a ferry dock collapsed on Georgia’s Sapelo Island on Saturday, according to local authorities.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the dock, reported that around 20 people fell into the water when the gangway gave way.
The incident occurred around 16:30 local time (20:30 GMT) at Marsh Landing Dock during a cultural event. Several individuals have been hospitalized, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, stating that he and his wife, Jill, “mourn the lives lost and pray for the injured and anyone still missing.”
The exact cause of the collapse remains unknown. Local reports described the gangway as a walkway connecting the outer dock, where people boarded the ferry, to another dock onshore.
Governor Brian Kemp shared his heartbreak, asking for prayers for the victims and their families. He assured that state resources were being deployed for search and rescue operations.
Georgia representative Buddy Carter also confirmed state assistance on social media.
Tyler Jones, spokesperson for Georgia’s National Resources Department, clarified that there was “no collision,” adding, “The thing just collapsed. We don’t know why.”
Pastor Jerald Thomas, who came to offer help, praised the swift response from those nearby. “They came together quickly,” he told WTOC, “sending the necessary support in this tragic time.”
Saturday’s event was intended to celebrate the Gullah-Geechee community of Hogg Hummock, which is home to descendants of formerly enslaved people who settled on the island after the Civil War.
President Biden, in his statement, noted that what was meant to be a joyful celebration of Gullah-Geechee heritage had tragically turned into devastation.
Source-BBC
