On 19 October 2024, a ferry dock located at Sapelo Island in the U.S. state of Georgia collapsed, resulting in the deaths of seven people.
| Date | 19 October 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | ~3:50 p.m. (GMT-4) |
| Location | Sapelo Island, Georgia, United States |
| Type | Dock collapse causing drowning |
| Cause | Overcrowding |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 8 |
Collapse
editOn 19 October 2024, a ferry dock gangway located at Sapelo Island along the coast of Georgia, collapsed into the water, causing crowds of 20 people on the dock to fall into the water. The crowds of at least 40 people had come together to celebrate 2024 Cultural Day, commemorating Sapelo Island's Gullah-Geechee community made up of descendants of Black slaves.[1][2][3][4]
Seven people were killed in the collapse, with eight more reported injured, including six critically.[5]
Recovery
editPersonnel from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the United States Coast Guard, and the McIntosh County Fire Department began search operations to find survivors who were still in the water. Several recovered victims were taken to regional hospitals.[3]
Victims
editThe victims were identified as:
| # | Name (s) and Surname (s) | Age (s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah Thomas | 79 |
| 2 | Carlotta Mcintosh | 93 |
| 3 | Jacqueline Crews Carter | 75 |
| 4 | Cynthia Alynn Gibbs | 74 |
| 5 | Queen Welch | 76 |
| 6 | William Lee Johnson Jr. | 73 |
| 7 | Charles League Houston | 77 |
All victims were elderly people, with the youngest victim being 73.[6]
Aftermath
editAfter the collapse, signs were put up at the entrance of the gangway limiting the amount of people at one time to eight.[7]
Reactions
editPresident of the United States Joe Biden and First Lady of the United States Jill Biden were "heartbroken" and said in a statement “What should have been a joyous celebration of Gullah-Geechee culture and history instead turned into tragedy and devastation. Jill and I mourn those who lost their lives, and we pray for the injured and anyone still missing,"[8]
Georgia governor Brian Kemp and his wife Marty Kemp said they were also "heartbroken" saying in a twitter post "Marty, the girls, and I are heartbroken by today’s tragedy on Sapelo Island. As state and local first responders continue to work this active scene, we ask that all Georgians join us in praying for those lost, for those still in harm’s way, and for their families,"
References
edit- ^ "Georgia authorities investigating 'catastrophic failure' of dock gangway that collapsed, killing 7". MSN. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "At least 7 dead in a ferry deck gangway collapse on Sapelo Island in Georgia". CNN. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "At least 7 dead after ferry dock gangway collapses on Georgia's Sapelo Island". AP News. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "At least 7 dead following Sapelo Island dock collapse". WTOC. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ Coker, Margaret; Kemp, Robin; Landers, Mary; Gibbs, Jabari (2024-10-19). "7 dead, 8 injured after Sapelo dock collapse". The Current. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ Bacon, John; Deem, John (October 21, 2024). "Identities of 7 who died in Georgia dock collapse released. The youngest was 73". USA Today. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Sapelo Island dock collapse: New signs go up limiting amount of people allowed on gangway". WSBTV. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ "Georgia ferry dock collapse: Festival-goers jumped into water to save drowning elderly as Georgia dock collapse kills at least seven". New York Post. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.