At least 19 people were injured in a stampede early Sunday at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina.

Officials said the panic began when one person started running, triggering a brief chain reaction in a crowded stage area.

Emergency crews responded quickly, and three people were taken to the hospital while others sought treatment on their own, with all injuries reported as non-life-threatening.

Law enforcement said there were no fights, weapons, or direct threats, and that the situation was quickly brought under control, NBC News has reported.

Authorities described the incident as a momentary crowd reaction rather than a broader safety failure at the long-running festival.