Tragedy Strikes Sapelo Island: Seven Dead After Ferry Dock Collapse During Gullah-Geechee Celebration
A joyful celebration turned tragic on Saturday when part of a ferry dock collapsed on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, killing at least seven people. The incident occurred during Cultural Day, an annual fall event celebrating the island’s Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of enslaved Africans. Eight people were hospitalized, six of them critically injured, as emergency crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and other agencies responded to the scene.
Dock Collapse Sends Victims Into Water
Tyler Jones, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, reported that a gangway at the ferry dock collapsed, sending around 20 people into the water. “There was no collision with a boat or anything else. The thing just collapsed. We don’t know why,” Jones stated. A team of engineers is expected to investigate the cause of the collapse. Among the victims was a chaplain for the Department of Natural Resources.
Federal and State Response
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, urging the public to pray for the victims and their families. “My family and I are heartbroken by today’s tragedy on Sapelo Island,” Kemp shared on X, formerly Twitter.
President Joe Biden also extended condolences, stating, “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.”
A Cultural Haven of History and Struggle
Sapelo Island, located about 60 miles south of Savannah, is home to Hogg Hummock, a small Gullah-Geechee community that has preserved much of its African heritage. The community, with its dirt roads and modest homes, was founded by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. Roger Lotson, the only Black member of the McIntosh County Board of Commissioners, highlighted the community’s unity during this time, saying, “Everyone is family, and everyone knows each other. In any tragedy, especially like this, they are all one. They’re all united. They all feel the same pain and the same hurt.”
The Gullah-Geechee people, known for their rich cultural heritage, reside along the southeastern U.S. coast from North Carolina to Florida. Sapelo Island’s isolation has allowed the community to retain many African customs, including a distinct dialect, traditional fishing methods, and basket weaving. The loss of lives in this incident is a profound loss not only to the families but also to the preservation of this unique cultural legacy.
Threats to the Community’s Future
Hogg Hummock, designated a historic site on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, faces modern threats to its survival. Over time, the community’s population has dwindled, as rising taxes and zoning changes allowed larger homes in the small historic area. This has led to outsiders purchasing land to build vacation homes, sparking protests and lawsuits from the residents.
Many fear that further tax increases could force long-standing families to sell the land that has been in their families for generations. This ongoing battle represents the broader fight to preserve Hogg Hummock’s cultural and historical significance against external pressures.
As the island mourns the victims of this tragic event, the future of this historically important community remains uncertain. Their struggle is a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by small, culturally rich communities trying to preserve their identity in the face of modernization.