A group of eight dolphins became stranded on the shore and either died or had to be euthanised, it was reported.
Local authorities were alerted, and animal rescue and rehabilitation centre workers, as well as state workers and police, rushed to the scene in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, on Tuesday to try and help the stranded animals.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of the experts on the scene, two of the dolphins died on the beach.
The remaining six dolphins were assessed by a veterinarian from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, who determined that their health was failing as well.
The centre made the difficult decision to euthanize the dolphins humanely to prevent further suffering, as returning them to the ocean would only have prolonged their inevitable death.
Sea Isle City officials wrote on Facebook: "The city is aware that dolphins have washed up on the 50th and 52nd Street Beaches.
"Please do not approach them. Marine Mammal Stranding Center is on the way."
In a statement, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said their staff and veterinarian were on the scene responding to a mass stranding event in Sea Isle City involving a pod of eight Common dolphins.
At the time, two of the dolphins had already died, and the MMSC asked the public "to provide enough space for the team to carry out their work".
After the dolphins were euthanized, they were sent to a state laboratory for a necropsy, which is an animal autopsy.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center hopes that the results of the necropsies will help shed light on why the dolphins became stranded in the first place.
The incident was a cause for sadness for the public, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center expressed their shared sorrow for the loss of these beautiful animals.
The centre emphasized that the necropsies will be crucial in understanding the reason for the dolphins' stranding.
It is hoped that any information gleaned from the process will help prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
