Seven dead as crowded ferry dock collapses in Georgia's Sapelo Island

At slightest 7 radical person died aft portion of a ferry dock collapsed successful Georgia's Sapelo Island connected Saturday, section authorities say.

Georgia's section of earthy resources, which operates the dock, said astatine slightest 20 radical plunged into the h2o erstwhile the gangway collapsed.

The incidental happened astatine astir 16:30 section clip (20:30 GMT) astatine the Marsh Landing Dock arsenic crowds gathered for a taste celebration.

Multiple radical person been taken to infirmary and hunt and rescue operations are nether way.

US President Joe Biden said helium and his woman Jill mourn the lives mislaid and "pray for the injured and anyone inactive missing".

It is not yet known what caused the illness of the walkway, which connected an outer dock wherever radical committee the ferry to different dock onshore, according to section reports.

Brian Kemp, the politician of Georgia, said helium and his household were "heartbroken" by the calamity and asked for prayers "for those lost, for those inactive successful harm's way, and for their families".

The politician has sent "state resources to assistance successful search, rescue, & recovery", Georgia typical Buddy Carter said successful a station connected X.

Biden said his squad "stand acceptable to supply immoderate and each assistance that would beryllium adjuvant to the community".

Local authorities said the gangway has been secured and the incidental is nether investigation.

Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for Georgia's National Resources Department, said determination was "no collision," according to the Associated Press agency.

“The happening conscionable collapsed," helium said. "We don’t cognize why.”

Pastor Jerald Thomas of the adjacent Elm Grove Church went to the country to help.

“They came unneurotic quickly, and they began to nonstop the indispensable things that was needed successful bid to marque the radical enactment portion they were going done this tragic time,” helium told section outlet WTOC.

People had gathered Saturday to observe the island's assemblage of Hogg Hummock, which is location to a fewer twelve achromatic residents.

Hogg Hummock was founded by newly-freed erstwhile enslaved radical from plantations successful coastal Georgia who settled connected Sapelo Island pursuing the US Civil War, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation said connected its website.

Saturday's lawsuit "should person been a joyous solemnisation of Gullah-Geechee civilization and past alternatively turned into calamity and devastation", President Biden said successful his statement.

Small communities descended from enslaved land populations successful the South, known arsenic Gullah, oregon Geechee successful Georgia, are scattered on the seashore from North Carolina to Florida.

Sapelo Island is reachable from the mainland by boat.