Authorities said 19 people were hurt after a late-night rush near a stage area in Atlantic Beach sparked a mass casualty response.
Nearly 20 people were injured after a crowd surge at a gathering in coastal South Carolina early Sunday, authorities said.
Emergency crews responded around 1 a.m. to reports of what officials described as a “stampede incident” near a stage area in Atlantic Beach, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.
First responders found 19 people hurt in the rush, though officials said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. Three people were transported to a hospital, while authorities believe others may have sought treatment on their own.
Officials have not said what triggered the crowd movement, and the incident remains under investigation.
Authorities classified the response as a “mass casualty incident” because of the number of people injured. Emergency agencies often use the term to describe situations involving multiple victims, including injuries — not only fatalities.
The incident comes as large gatherings and festivals across the country continue to face heightened scrutiny over crowd safety and emergency response planning following several high-profile crowd surge incidents in recent years.