godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
run about frantically trying to escape; scatter in panic
Describes people or animals fleeing in confusion, often in multiple directions, under threat or panic.
火事で、人々は逃げ惑った。
People ran about frantically trying to escape the fire.
銃声が聞こえると、群衆は逃げ惑
Hearing gunshots, the crowd began to scatter in panic.