What was supposed to be a fun time at a South Carolina Biker Festival, unfortunately, descended into chaos. A stampede at the event left 19 people injured, and is being referred to as a 'mass casualty' incident.
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The Horry County Fire Rescue has since released a
statement via Facebook."At 1:05 a.m., Horry County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the stage area near South Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach for a reported stampede incident," the statement reads. "With the help of on-scene law enforcement, 19 patients were located and evaluated for injuries, none believed to be life-threatening at this time."
As the statement continued, it noted why the incident had been declared 'mass casualty.'
"Three people were transported to the hospital with injuries, with the possibility of others self-transporting to local hospitals. Note: An mass casualty incident (MCI) was declared due to the number of reported patients."
According to NBC News, the incident occurred during the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival. The event is held annually during Memorial Day weekend. The event is known to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The Town of Atlantic Beach Issued a Statement Following the Biker Festival Incident
Shortly after the incident, the town of Atlantic Beach issued a statement, which was obtained by PEOPLE.
"We want to express our sincere concern for anyone who was injured or impacted. Any situation where individuals are harmed is taken seriously, and our thoughts are with those affected as they recover," local authorities noted in the statement.
According to the statement, no incident actually occurred at the event. However, it would appear that rumors of an incident are what led to the stampede-like running by a portion of those in attendance.
"No incident had occurred and that individuals had simply started running. Their swift response helped calm attendees and restore order," the statement continued.
A town manager also released a statement, stressing the success of the event. They noted that throughout the festival, there were no "confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety."
There's currently no information regarding those who were injured at the event.
