Sapelo Island dock collapse
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| Date | October 19, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | ~3:50 p.m. (GMT-4) |
| Location | Sapelo Island, Georgia, United States |
| Coordinates | 31°25′05″N 81°17′46″W / 31.41803°N 81.29623°W |
| Type | Dock collapse causing drowning |
| Cause | Overcrowding |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 8 |
On October 19, 2024, a ferry dock located at Sapelo Island in the U.S. state of Georgia collapsed, resulting in the deaths of seven people.
On October 19, 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
Personnel 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]