Seven individuals are presumed dead after a gangway at a ferry dock collapsed on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The incident occurred during the island’s annual Cultural Day celebration, organized by the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society. At least 20 people went into the water when the structure collapsed, prompting a response from the U.S. Coast Guard and various state and local agencies. The number of injured individuals and the severity of their injuries remain unknown at this time.
Multiple search and rescue missions were deployed, including boats equipped with side-scan sonar and helicopters. The Coast Guard, still actively searching for survivors, has established a reunification center at a nearby church. President Joe Biden has pledged to provide federal resources to those affected, including the Gullah Geechee community, whose culture was being celebrated at the event.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences and encouraged Georgians to pray for the victims and their families. The Department of Natural Resources is currently investigating the incident, with the dock typically used by public ferry vessels and research trawlers. Sapelo Island, located about 72 miles south of Savannah, is rich in Gullah Geechee culture, preserved by descendants of West and Central African slaves. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what should have been a joyful celebration of this unique heritage.
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