Atlanta: At least seven people have died after part of a boat dock collapsed, sending at least 20 individuals into the Atlantic waters off the coast of Georgia, U.S. authorities reported. The U.S. Coast Guard continued its search for missing persons late Saturday night.
The incident, which also resulted in multiple injuries, occurred during a celebration of Sapelo Island’s Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of Black slaves. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the collapse happened when a gangway crowded with people waiting for a ferry gave way, plunging them into the water. Sapelo Island is situated about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Savannah.
“We and multiple agencies are searching for survivors,” said Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia DNR, which operates the ferry service to the island.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was in Atlanta for campaign events, issued a statement expressing her condolences. “Tonight, Doug and I are praying for all those who were killed or injured in the collapse of the ferry dock walkway on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, as well as their family members and loved ones,” she said, referencing her husband, Doug Emhoff. Harris also emphasized the importance of honoring the Gullah-Geechee community’s resilience, adding, “Even in the face of this heartbreak, we will continue to celebrate and honor the history, culture, and resilience of the Gullah-Geechee community.”
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Search-and-rescue efforts were underway, with Coast Guard helicopters and boats equipped with sonar scanning the waters. The cause of the dock collapse remains under investigation.
Sapelo Island, accessible only by boat, is home to a historic Black community. Cultural Day, the event during which the tragedy occurred, is an annual celebration honoring the Gullah-Geechee community, one of several island groups from Georgia to North Carolina known for preserving much of their African heritage due to their geographic isolation.
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“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved, including the entire Sapelo Island Community,” the Georgia DNR said in a statement.
