By Canadian Press

Georgia authorities investigating “catastrophic failure” of dock gangway that collapsed, killing 7

Oct 20, 2024 | 9:11 AM

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Georgia authorities say they are investigating the “catastrophic failure” of a dock gangway that collapsed and killed seven people on Sapelo Island.

That is where crowds had gathered for a fall celebration by the island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.

“It is a structural failure. There should be very, very little maintenance to an aluminum gangway like that, but we’ll see what the investigation unfolds,” Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon said at a news conference Sunday.

The gangway was installed in 2021, authorities said.

Seven people were killed in the collapse Saturday, and Rabon said three remained hospitalized in critical condition Sunday.

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Rabon said “upwards of 40 people” were on the gangway when it collapsed, and at least 20 fell into the water. Rabon said none of the people killed were residents of the island.

Russ Bynum And Emily Wagster Pettus, The Associated Press