**Tragedy on Sapelo Island: Gangway Collapse Claims Seven Lives**

In a heartbreaking incident, seven elderly individuals tragically lost their lives following the collapse of a gangway at the end of an annual cultural event on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The calamity unfolded as visitors were departing the island, approximately 70 miles south of Savannah, after attending a festival celebrating the Gullah Geechee heritage.

Witnesses recounted the terrifying moment when the gangway at the ferry dock gave way, resulting in a cacophony of cracking wood, piercing screams, and the horrifying scene of people plunging into the water. Emergency responders swiftly initiated an investigation to determine the cause behind the structural failure.

The annual event on Sapelo Island is one of the biggest drawcards for the community, paying homage to the Gullah Geechee culture. The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West Africans who were enslaved and brought to the southeastern United States. The festival attracts numerous visitors from across Georgia and beyond, offering a rich array of cultural experiences, including traditional foods like smoked mullet, and performances of poetry and African spirituals.

The disaster struck around 4:30 p.m. as dozens of festival-goers were preparing to board the Annemarie ferry to return to the mainland. The midsection of the gangway abruptly collapsed, sending twenty individuals, including the seven victims aged over 70, into the swift and frigid waters of the Duplin River.

Authorities continue to investigate the tragic event, seeking to understand how a day of celebration ended in such devastating loss.