SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. — A tragic incident occurred on Saturday when a portion of a ferry dock on Sapelo Island, Georgia, collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals. This information was confirmed by a representative of the state agency managing the ferry service.
Numerous people were transported to nearby hospitals following the accident. Emergency responders, including teams from the U.S. Coast Guard, the McIntosh County Fire Department, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, have been actively conducting searches in the surrounding waters for any additional survivors, according to Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The collapse involved a gangway at the dock, which failed and caused several people to fall into the water. This unfortunate event took place amid a gathering of individuals on the island who were celebrating the local Gullah-Geechee community, which comprises descendants of Black slaves.
Sapelo Island is located approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Savannah and is accessible only by boat from the mainland, making this incident especially devastating for the small community and those who had come to partake in the festivities.
