Dock walkway collapse kills 7 in U.S. state of Georgia

Sapelo Island, the place the Gullah-Geechee neighborhood held a pageant to have a good time, on June 10, 2013. File
| Photo Credit: AP

“A dock walkway collapse killed seven people in the southern U.S. state of Georgia on Saturday (October 19, 2024),” authorities mentioned, as crowds gathered for a pageant on an island.

At least 20 individuals had been tossed into the waters off Sapelo Island and an unknown quantity had been injured, Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources mentioned in an announcement, reporting the seven deaths.

The collapse occurred because the island hosted a pageant celebrating its tiny Gullah-Geechee neighborhood, descendants of African individuals as soon as enslaved on southern U.S. plantations.

Isolated on islands scattered alongside the southeastern U.S. coast, their ancestors relied on the land and sea. They created their very own tradition, fed by their African heritage, and even developed their very own Creole language.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources mentioned the incident was underneath investigation and didn’t supply potential causes of the collapse.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned native officers could be provided any federal assist wanted by the neighborhood.

“Even in the face of this heartbreak, we will continue to celebrate and honour the history, culture, and resilience of the Gullah-Geechee community,” mentioned Ms. Harris in an announcement.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp mentioned he was “heartbroken” by the tragedy.

“We ask that all Georgians join us in praying for those lost, for those still in harm’s way, and for their families,” he added on social media platform X.