SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) 鈥� Georgia authorities say they are investigating the 鈥渃atastrophic failure鈥� of a and killed seven people on Sapelo Island.
That is where crowds had gathered for a fall celebration by the island鈥檚 tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.
鈥淚t is a structural failure. There should be very, very little maintenance to an aluminum gangway like that, but we鈥檒l see what the investigation unfolds,鈥� 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.
Rabon said 鈥渦pwards of 40 people鈥� 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
