Seven Dead, Including Chaplain, After Dock Collapse at Gullah-Geechee Event on Sapelo Island

Oct 20, 2024, 12:30 AM

At least seven people, including a chaplain, were killed and six others injured on Saturday after a gangway at a ferry dock collapsed on Georgia’s Sapelo Island. The collapse occurred before 4:30 p.m., sending at least 20 people into the water during a Gullah-Geechee community event, which celebrates the culture of the descendants of enslaved Africans. The U.S. Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and state and local agencies responded to the incident. Governor Brian Kemp dispatched state resources to aid in search, rescue, and recovery efforts. President Joe Biden issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims' families.