At least 19 people were injured after a suspected stampede erupted at a packed South Carolina beach early Sunday morning, sending first responders rushing into the chaos during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
The incident happened just after 1 a.m. near the stage area in Atlantic Beach, a small coastal town located about 13 miles north of Myrtle Beach.
Horry County Fire Rescue said crews responded to what was described as a “reported stampede incident” in the crowded beach area.
When emergency crews arrived, 19 people were evaluated for injuries. Officials said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Three people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Authorities said they have not ruled out the possibility that more people may have been hurt but left the area before being checked by first responders.
Officials have not said what triggered the suspected stampede.
The scare unfolded as Atlantic Beach was hosting its annual Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, a major holiday weekend event featuring live music, parties, entertainment, meet-and-greets, and other festivities running from Friday through Monday.
It was not immediately clear whether the people injured in the stampede were attending the bike festival.
The annual motorcycle rally brings huge crowds to the area each year. According to the town’s website, Black Bike Week has been reported to draw more than 400,000 people to the region, though officials note it can be difficult to separate those crowds from spring breakers and other Memorial Day weekend visitors in nearby Myrtle Beach.
The early-morning incident quickly turned what should have been a weekend celebration into a frightening scene.
Ambulances were seen responding to the area as rescue crews worked to treat the injured and assess the crowd.
For now, officials have not released details about whether panic, overcrowding, a fight, or another disturbance led to the stampede.
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