14 hurt in deck collapse at North Carolina beach | WBTW – Myrtle Beach

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (AP) – Investigators are trying to determine what caused a deck to collapse as a family was taking a group photo at their rented beach house in North Carolina.

According to Emerald Isle Police Chief Jeffrey Waters, emergency crews were called to an oceanfront home at 4403 Ocean Drive for a deck collapse at 6:59 p.m. One-third of the deck fell, according to CNN. Some neighbors worked to help victims while waiting for first responders.

Walker said others with lesser injuries might not have been brought to hospitals.

The collapse occurred on the second story of a beach house, WTVR, Richmond, Virginia, reported. Morehead City EMS provided a mass casualty bus to treat and transport victims. Officials said 25 people were hurt, but not all of those were taken to the hospital.

Another two people were airlifted from the scene to a different hospital, and were also believed to be in critical condition, the Carteret hospital spokeswoman said. Three people are reported in critical condition. Many patients suffered from orthopedic injuries but she refused to give further details to protect the privacy of those who were hurt.

Their identities and relations to each other weren’t disclosed and it wasn’t immediately clear if all of the injured were from a single family.