ATLANTA − A tragic incident occurred on Saturday when part of a boat dock collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals and sending around 20 people into the Atlantic Ocean off Georgia’s coast.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been conducting nighttime searches for those who are still missing.

The collapse, which left several injured, took place during a celebration for the Gullah-Geechee community, descendants of Black slaves residing on Sapelo Island, as per statements from authorities.

A crowded gangway, where people were waiting for a ferryboat, fell apart late Saturday afternoon on this Georgia barrier island, located about 60 miles south of Savannah. This information was provided by Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which operates the ferry service.

“We, along with multiple agencies, are actively searching for survivors,” Jones noted.

Search-and-rescue efforts were swiftly initiated with Coast Guard helicopters and boats equipped with sonar technology. The reason behind the dock’s collapse has yet to be determined.

Access to Sapelo Island is exclusively by boat, and the ferry ride to the island takes about 20 minutes.

The event marked Cultural Day, an annual festival dedicated to celebrating the island’s historical Black community descended from former enslaved people, representing one of the few remaining island communities from Georgia to North Carolina.

The Gullah, or Geechee people in Georgia, are believed to have preserved a significant portion of their African roots due to their geographic isolation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, including the entire Sapelo Island Community,” the Georgia Department of Natural Resources expressed in a statement.