According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, a ferry port on Sapelo Island in Georgia collapsed on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals and the injuries of numerous others.
Ferry port collapsed in Sapelo Island Georgia
It transpired during a commemoration of the island’s diminutive Gullah-Geechee community, which is comprised of Black slave descendants.
Georgia DNR Capt. Chris Hodge stated at a news conference on Saturday night that a gangway collapsed on the visitor ferry port shortly before 4 p.m., resulting in the plunge of at least 20 individuals into the water. Previously, a McIntosh County commissioner claimed that a boat collided with the dock. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) subsequently informed The Associated Press that there was no collision and that the cause of the dock’s collapse is unknown.
Georgia DNR spokesperson Melissa Cummings verified to CNN that a chaplain for the DNR was among the deceased.
According to Hodge, six individuals sustained critical injuries, and two were transported to hospitals for treatment via air ambulance.
In its release, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stated that the gangway on Sapelo Island has been secured and that the incident is presently under investigation.
When a portion of a ferry platform collapsed on Sapelo Island, Georgia, numerous agencies responded.
According to the DNR, multiple other emergency agencies provided assistance by deploying helicopters and vessels equipped with side-scan sonar for search and rescue missions.
In a Facebook post issued earlier Saturday, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office announced that it was “collaborating with numerous agencies to address an active situation on Sapelo Island.” “We have established a family reunification point at the Elm Grove Baptist Church,” the post stated. “We request that individuals who are in search of family members first consult the aforementioned location.”
The McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, McIntosh County EMS, and the US Coast Guard have been contacted by CNN for additional information.
In separate statements on Saturday, President Joe Biden and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed their “heartbreak” over the news of the collapse.
“Jill and I express our condolences for the deceased and offer our prayers for the injured and those who remain unaccounted for.” “We are also appreciative of the initial responders who arrived on the scene,” Biden stated.
He also stated that the White House is in communication with state and local officials to offer any assistance that would be beneficial to the community.
“We implore all Georgians to join us in praying for the families of the deceased, those who remain in danger, and those who have perished, as state and local first responders continue to operate at this highly active scene.” Kemp stated in a post on X.
The disaster, according to the City of Darien, transformed the community’s day of celebration into a tragedy. According to a Facebook post from the city, “Please remember the families of those affected, the individuals who lost their lives today, and our community in your prayers.”
In addition, the Sapelo Island Cultural And Revitalization Society, which organizes the island’s annual Cultural Day Festival, expressed its gratitude for the support that has been extended to it and expressed its “heartbreak.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured,” the nonprofit organization stated in a Facebook post. “The Sapelo Island community is appreciative of the outpouring of love and support, and we implore you to join us in your prayers for the families of those affected by this tragedy.”
Sapelo Island is a barrier island located off the coast of Georgia that can only be reached by watercraft. According to Explore Georgia, the island is inhabited by approximately 70 full-time residents. The majority of them are the descendants of slaves who labored on plantations.
Visitors are transported to the mainland dock in Meridian by ferry, which departs from the Sapelo-side quay three times daily. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the island experienced substantial devastation during Hurricane Helene, which included a six-day power outage.
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