According to local authorities, at least seven people have died following the collapse of a ferry dock in Georgia's Sapelo Island on Saturday.
Georgia's department of natural resources, which operates the dock, said at least 20 people plunged into the water when the Island dock collapsed, causing a cultural celebration tragedy.
The incident happened at approximately 16:30 local time (20:30 GMT) at the Marsh Landing Dock as crowds gathered for a cultural celebration of the Gullah Geechee community.
US President Joe Biden said he and his wife Jill mourn the lives lost and "pray for the injured and anyone still missing".
What Caused The Georgia Ferry Accident?
It is not yet known what caused the collapse of the walkway, which connected an outer dock to another dock onshore, according to local reports.
However, Brian Kemp, the governor of Georgia, said he and his family were "heartbroken" by the tragedy and asked for prayers "for those lost, for those still in harm's way, and for their families".
Rescue Operations
The governor has sent "state resources to aid in search, rescue, & recovery", Georgia representative Buddy Carter said in a post on X.
Biden said his team "stand ready to provide any and all assistance that would be helpful to the community".
Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for Georgia's National Resources Department, said there was "no collision," according to the Associated Press agency.
“The thing just collapsed," he said. "We don’t know why.”
Pastor Jerald Thomas of the nearby Elm Grove Church went to the scene to join in the Sapelo Island rescue.
“They came together quickly, and they began to send the necessary things that were needed in order to make the people stay while they were going through this tragic time,” he told local outlet WTOC.
People had gathered on Saturday to celebrate the island's community of Hogg Hummock, which is home to a few dozen black residents.
What Was The Cultural Celebration About?
Hogg Hummock was founded by newly-freed former enslaved people from plantations in coastal Georgia who settled on Sapelo Island following the US Civil War, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation said on its website.
Saturday's event "should have been a joyous celebration of Gullah-Geechee culture and history instead turned into tragedy and devastation", President Biden said in his statement.
What Next?
The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, which organized the event, expressed gratitude for the support the community has received, asking for continued prayers for the affected families. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and President Joe Biden also offered their condolences, with Biden noting that the celebration turned into a tragic moment for the Gullah Geechee community, which has maintained its cultural traditions for centuries.
Rescue efforts included the deployment of two Coast Guard air crews, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Despite the tragedy, the resilience of the Sapelo Island community remains evident, and investigations into the cause of the dock collapse continue.
This incident has highlighted the vulnerability of remote ferry-dependent locations and the importance of regular safety inspections, especially in public-use areas. The Sapelo Island dock collapse serves as a somber reminder of the need for stringent safety measures at events that draw large crowds.