A joyous gathering turned tragic at Sapelo Island, Georgia, when a dock gangway collapsed, claiming seven lives and critically injuring six others.
The disaster struck during a local cultural celebration, which deeply impacted the close-knit community, as reported by the New York Post.
On a bustling Saturday, more than twenty individuals stood on the aluminum gangway connecting the island to a ferry dock when it unexpectedly gave way. Consequently, residents and tourists alike plunged into the water amid the chaos. Among the victims was Reverend Charles Houston, a respected pastor and chaplain for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Moreover, witnesses described harrowing scenes of elderly attendees and others struggling in the water, with some submerged and motionless.
Rescue teams, including divers, launched frantic efforts to save those submerged. By Sunday afternoon, authorities confirmed that they had accounted for all victims with the aid of boats and divers.
Tyler Jones, spokesperson for the Georgia DNR, provided details of the efforts, stating, "Eight people were hospitalized, and six were in critical condition." He further explained that "the structure, which was built in 2021, showed no signs of impact from boats or other objects."
The bond shared by the residents, exemplified in their time of collective mourning, highlights an enduring connectedness rooted in shared history and struggles.
Continuing the effort to understand the collapse, investigations are led by engineers who aim to pinpoint the failure of the gangway. Preliminary findings suggest no external impacts led to the catastrophe. "It is way too early to determine the cause of the collapse," Jones added, hinting at the complexity of the ongoing investigation.
