SAVANNAH, Ga. — Authorities in Georgia are currently probing a tragic incident involving the collapse of a dock gangway that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals on Sapelo Island. This unfortunate event occurred during a fall celebration hosted by the small Gullah-Geechee community, made up of descendants of Black slaves.

“The incident points to a structural failure. Aluminum gangways typically require minimal maintenance, though we will await the investigation’s findings,” stated Walter Rabon, the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, during a press briefing on Sunday.

Officials confirmed that the gangway in question was put in place in 2021. The collapse took place on Saturday, leading to the fatalities, while three others were still receiving critical care as of Sunday.

Rabon mentioned that there were “upwards of 40 individuals” on the gangway at the time of the incident, with at least 20 falling into the water when the structure gave way. He also noted that none of the deceased were residents of the island.