A tragic incident occurred on Saturday on Sapelo Island, Georgia, where a gangway at a marina collapsed. At least seven people are believed to have died, with 20 others falling into the water when the structure gave way. The extent of the injuries is still unknown, and emergency agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard are currently conducting search and rescue missions in the area. The incident is under investigation, with the gangway being secured on the island.
The gangway is used by public ferry vessels and research trawlers from the University of Georgia, among other small boats. The incident took place during the annual Cultural Day celebration organized by the Sepalo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, though it is unclear if celebrants were on the gangway at the time.
Sapelo Island, located about 72 miles south of Savannah on the Atlantic Coast, is currently the center of this developing story. More updates will be provided as information becomes available. This article was first published on NBCNews.com, with contributions from Alex Lo.
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