Authorities are investigating the cause of the partial collapse of the ferry dock in the Sapelo Island of Georgia, in the United States, which turned a day of celebration into tragedy, leaving at least seven dead and six seriously injured as crowds gathered for a cultural festival.
Amid a celebration of the island’s small Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of black slaves, a walkway collapsed at the visitor ferry dock shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday and submerged at least 20 people in the water, Capt. Chris Hodge of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said at a news conference Saturday night.
It is still unclear why the Marsh Landing dam collapsed. A team of engineers and construction specialists arrived at the pier to begin investigating why it collapsed, Natural Resources spokesman Tyler Jones told the AP.
“The walkway on Sapelo Island has been secured and the incident is currently being investigated,” the Georgia DNR, which manages the island and operates the ferry service, said in a statement Saturday night.
Ferries typically leave the Sapelo side dock three times a day and take visitors to the mainland dock in Meridian.
7 grandparents, including a chaplain, died
Among the deceased was a DNR chaplain, Georgia DNR spokesperson Melissa Cummings confirmed to CNN. They have not yet released details about other deceased people. Two of the injured were taken by air ambulance to hospitals for treatment, Hodge said.
The state Department of Natural Resources said several other emergency agencies helped them by sending boats equipped with side-scan sonar and helicopters for search and rescue missions. A reunification point has been set up at an area church where those looking for family members can reunite, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office said.
CNN has reached out to the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, McIntosh County EMS and the US Coast Guard for more information.
The tragedy occurred during Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Awareness Month, which is celebrated in October in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, which organizes the island’s annual Cultural Day Festival, said it was grateful for the support people have shown.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones who lost their lives and were injured,” the nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the Gullah-Geechee culture, land and community on Sapelo Island said in a Facebook post. “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 affected by this tragedy.”
The nearby city of Darien, in McIntosh County, said “a day of celebration turned into tragedy after an accident.”
Both President Joe Biden and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said they were “heartbroken” by news of the collapse in separate statements Saturday. The tragedy comes after the island suffered damage during Hurricane Helene, including a six-day power outage, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“Jill and I mourn those who lost their lives and pray for those injured and for all those still missing. “We are also grateful to the first responders who responded to the scene,” Biden said.
He added that the White House is in contact with state and local officials to provide any assistance that may be helpful to the community.
“As state and local emergency responders continue to work this active scene, we ask that all Georgians join us in praying for those lost, those still in danger, and their families,” Kemp said in a post on x.
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock said he was “deeply saddened” by the news from Sapelo Island and called it “a tragic end to a joyful celebration.”
“We pray for the loved ones of those we sadly lost and for those who are still missing,” he said in a post on X on Saturday night. “The heart of every Georgian goes out to the Gullah Geechee community and the people of Sapelo Island tonight.”
“We are all family” in one of Georgia’s last Gullah-Geechee communities
According to Explore Georgia, Sapelo Island, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia that is only accessible by boat or ferry, is home to the Hog Hammock community, made up of a few dozen full-time residents. Many of them are known as the Gullah-Geechee people, who descend from enslaved Africans who were brought to the island in 1802 and worked on coastal plantations.
Members of Hogg Hammock’s Gullah-Geechee community are extremely tight-knit, “bound by family, bonded by history and bonded by struggle,” Roger Lotson of the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners told the AP. His district includes Sapelo Island.
“We are all family and we all know each other,” Lotson said. “In any tragedy, especially one like this, everyone is one. They are all united. “Everyone feels the same pain and the same suffering.”
Historians believe Hogg Hammock, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, is one of the last surviving Gullah Geechee communities in the Georgia Sea Islands. This extremely close-knit community has preserved many of its West African cultural traditions and languages, passing them on from one generation to the next. That includes practicing the ancient African art of basket-making, keeping alive the popular tradition of ring scream music, making a living shrimping and oyster-gathering, and speaking in an English-based creole vernacular known as Gullah.
On Saturday, island residents and visitors attended a six-hour Cultural Day that honored Gullah-Geechee traditions with African dance performances, native food vendors and historical tours.
Jerald J. Thomas, pastor of Elm Grove Church near the site of the collapse, told CNN affiliate WTOC that the community came together to help after the tragedy.
“They got together quickly and began sending the necessary things to make the stay more bearable for the people who were going through that tragic time,” Thomas said.
Several Sapelo Island residents, Josiah “Jazz” Watts, previously told CNN, are older and on fixed incomes. Last year, a zoning change that increased the maximum square footage of a home with heating and air conditioning was met with concern by residents, who said it would allow the wealthy to build properties in the community and lead to high property taxes.
Only 29 original descendants remain in the community, local historian and ninth-generation Hogg Hammock resident Maurice Bailey told CNN last year. He estimated that the descendants own 63% of the properties and 75% of the surface area of Sapelo Island.
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Interview with Roger Lotson, McIntosh County Commissioner and member of the Gullah-Geechee community, following the tragedy on Sapelo Island.
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Roger. Can you share your feelings about the recent tragedy at the ferry dock during the cultural festival on Sapelo Island?
Roger Lotson: Thank you for having me. It’s hard to put into words the deep sorrow and shock we all feel right now. What was supposed to be a joyous celebration of our culture turned into something unimaginable. We lost seven beloved community members, including a chaplain who was not just a spiritual leader but a friend to many. Our hearts are heavy.
Editor: There were many people gathered for the festival at the time of the incident. Can you tell us about the impact this tragedy will have on the Gullah-Geechee community?
Roger Lotson: Our community is incredibly close-knit. We often say, “We are all family,” and in times like these, that sentiment rings even truer. Our grief is collective. Everyone is feeling this pain; it’s not just the families of the victims, but every single person on the island shares in this loss. It will take time to heal, but I believe we will come together even stronger as we support one another through this.
Editor: Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the dock’s collapse. What are your thoughts on this, and what measures do you think need to be taken moving forward?
Roger Lotson: It’s critical that we understand how this could happen. The dock is a vital link for our community; it allows us to connect with the outside world. We need thorough, transparent investigations and, more importantly, we need to ensure that any necessary repairs or changes will keep our community safe in the future. We owe it to those we lost to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Editor: What message would you like to send to those outside the Gullah-Geechee community who may be watching this unfold?
Roger Lotson: I would ask for your prayers and support. The Gullah-Geechee culture is rich and resilient, but we are facing a significant challenge right now. This tragedy is a reminder of the fragility of life and community. We are grateful for the outpouring of love we’ve received, and I invite everyone to learn more about our culture and history. Together, we can honor those we lost by uplifting our community.
Editor: Thank you, Roger, for sharing your insights during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with the Gullah-Geechee community as you navigate this tragedy.
Roger Lotson: Thank you for the support. We appreciate it immensely.
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Roger. Can you share your feelings about the recent tragedy at the ferry dock during the cultural festival on Sapelo Island?
Roger Lotson: Thank you for having me. It’s hard to put into words the deep sorrow and shock we all feel right now. What was supposed to be a joyous celebration of our culture turned into something unimaginable. We lost seven beloved community members, including a chaplain who was not just a spiritual leader but a friend to many. Our hearts are heavy.
Editor: There were many people gathered for the festival at the time of the incident. Can you tell us about the impact this tragedy will have on the Gullah-Geechee community?
Roger Lotson: Our community is incredibly close-knit. We often say, “We are all family,” and in times like these, that sentiment rings even truer. Our grief is collective. Everyone is feeling this pain; it’s not just the families of the victims, but every single person on the island shares in this loss. It will take time for us to heal, but I know our unity will help us through this.
Editor: What support efforts are currently being organized for the victims’ families and the community as a whole?
Roger Lotson: We’re seeing a tremendous outpouring of love and support from across the region. Local churches and community organizations are setting up reunification points and providing resources for families affected by this tragedy. Our relationships are our greatest asset, and we’re coming together to ensure that everyone has what they need during this incredibly difficult time.
Editor: What message would you like to convey to those outside of your community who are following this story?
Roger Lotson: I want everyone to understand the strength of the Gullah-Geechee community and the history that binds us. We are resilient, but we need support and understanding from our neighbors and friends beyond Sapelo Island as we navigate this tragedy together. Your thoughts and prayers make a significant difference.
Editor: Thank you for sharing these powerful words and updates, Roger. Our thoughts are with you and the entire community during this trying time.
Roger Lotson: Thank you for having me and for your support. It means a lot to us right now.
