At least seven people were killed and over 20 were injured when part of a boat dock collapsed on Sapelo Island off the coast of Georgia. The accident occurred during a celebration of the island’s Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants. Authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard, launched search and rescue operations to find missing individuals.
The collapse happened on a gangway crowded with people waiting for a ferryboat and the cause of the accident is still unknown. Sapelo Island can only be reached by boat and is home to a historic Black community whose ancestors were enslaved. The island’s Cultural Day, an annual festival celebrating the community’s heritage, was underway at the time of the collapse.
The Gullah-Geechee people, also known as Geechee in Georgia, have preserved their African heritage due to their isolation on the island. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources expressed condolences to those affected by the tragedy, including the entire Sapelo Island community. Search teams, including Coast Guard helicopters and boats, are working through the night to locate survivors and provide assistance to those injured in the incident.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com