At least seven dead & six injured after ferry dock mysteriously collapses during festival on Georgia’s Sapelo Island

AT least even people were killed and six injured after part of a ferry dock mysteriously collapsed, sending people plunging into the water.

Crowds had been gathering for a fall festival on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, organised by tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.

But in the midst of celebrations, a gangway at the dock collapsed, sending at least 20 people plunging into the water, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Capt. Chris Hodge said.

Eight people were rushed to the hospital, at least six of them with critical injuries, according to authorities.

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency services were searching the water with helicopters and boats with side-scanning sonar.

A team of engineers and construction specialists are also planned to be on site early Sunday to begin investigating why the walkway failed.

The cause of the tragedy – which took place shortly before 4pm on Saturday – is still unknown.

“There was no collision” with a boat or anything else, Natural Resources spokesperson Tyler Jones said.

“The thing just collapsed. We don’t know why.”

Sapelo Island is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) south of Savannah, reachable from the mainland by boat.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which oversees the island and runs the ferry service, stated on Saturday night that “the gangway has been secured on Sapelo Island and the incident is currently under investigation.”

Three times a day, on average, ferries leave from the Sapelo-side dock to transport passengers to the mainland dock in Meridian.

A chaplain for the DNR was among those who tragically died, a representative for the Georgia DNR named Melissa Cummings confirmed to .

Details on the other victims are yet to be released.

October is Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, where the tragedy took place.

The annual Cultural Day Festival on Sapelo Island is organised by the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalisation Society, who expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support.

The organization said in a Facebook post: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones who lost their lives and who were injured.

 “The Sapelo Island community is grateful for the outpouring of love and support and we ask that you join us in praying for the families of those who were impacted by this tragedy.”

In McIntosh County, the adjacent city of Darien declared that “a day of celebration has turned to tragedy following an accident.”

In separate remarks on Saturday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and President Joe Biden expressed their “heartbreak” over the news of the collapse.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre reports that the tragedy occurred after Hurricane Helene caused damage to the island, including a six-day power outage.

“Jill and I mourn those who lost their lives, and we pray for the injured and anyone still missing. We are also grateful to the first responders at the scene,” Biden said.

He continued by saying that the White House maintains contact with local and state authorities to offer any support that could benefit the community.

Kemp said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “As state and local first responders continue to work this active scene, we ask that all Georgians join us in praying for those lost, for those still in harm’s way, and for their families.”

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock said he was “deeply saddened” by the news out of Sapelo Island, saying it was “a tragic end to a joyous celebration.”