Ferry Dock Collapses During Celebration On Georgia’s Sapelo Island, 7 Dead

Ferry Boat and Dock — Image for representation purposes only

A ferry dock collapsed on Sapelo Island, Georgia, on October 19, 2024 afternoon, killing at least seven people and injuring several others.

The collapse happened during Cultural Day, an annual festival celebrating the island’s Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of enslaved Africans. At least 20 people fell into the Atlantic Ocean during the accident.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the gangway collapse around 4 p.m., with officials first looking into whether a boat had collided with the dock.

However, authorities later confirmed that there was no collision, and the cause of the collapse remained unknown. Emergency agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, arrived immediately with helicopters and sonar-equipped boats to search for survivors.

Per the department sources, one of the victims was a Georgia DNR chaplain. Six others were seriously injured, with two being evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment. Rescue efforts continued late into the night as officials searched for any remaining missing people.

Sapelo Island, located about 60 miles south of Savannah, is only accessible by boat.

The ferry dock collapsed at the state-run ferry port, where guests were preparing to board after the festival. The ferry operates several times daily, transporting residents and visitors between the island and the mainland.

In response to the collapse, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was in Georgia for her presidential campaign, expressed her condolences, saying that she and her husband were “praying for all those who were killed or injured” and that federal support would be available if needed.

President Joe Biden and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp both expressed sympathies, with Biden stating that he and First Lady Jill Biden were “mourning the lives lost” while assisting local authorities.

The festival’s organizers, the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, described the event’s unfortunate turn as “heartbreaking.” They asked the public to pray for the victims’ families and expressed gratitude for their show of support.

The Georgia DNR confirmed that the dock has since been secured and that investigations into the cause of the collapse are still underway.

References: Reuters, CNN

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