A devastating ferry dock collapse in Georgia has resulted in seven fatalities and six individuals critically injured. According to officials, eight people were taken to hospitals, with at least six suffering from severe injuries. Crews from various agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, have been involved in a search operation in the waters surrounding the site.

Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources, mentioned that a team of engineers and construction specialists is expected to investigate the cause of the walkway failure. “There was no collision with a boat or anything else,” Jones said. “The thing just collapsed. We don’t know why.” Helicopters and boats equipped with side-scanning sonar have been deployed in the ongoing search efforts.

Among the deceased was a chaplain for the state agency. At the time of the incident, around 20 people were on the gangway, which connected an outer dock to the mainland.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating he and his family were “heartbroken by today’s tragedy on Sapelo Island.” He urged all Georgians to pray for those who lost their lives and for their families.

President Joe Biden offered federal support and stated, “What should have been a joyous celebration of Gullah-Geechee culture and history instead turned into tragedy and devastation.” He expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives and gratitude for the first responders on the scene.

The incident occurred on Sapelo Island, located about 60 miles south of Savannah, as residents and visitors gathered for Cultural Day, a cherished annual event celebrating the island’s small community of Hogg Hummock. This community, founded by former slaves after the Civil War, is home to a tight-knit group of Black residents who are deeply connected by their shared history and struggles, as noted by Roger Lotson, the only Black member of the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners, whose district includes the island.

U.S. Elections: Record Turnout in Georgia as Early Voting Begins for Presidential Election