A lightning strike hit the gymnasium at St. Petersburg Catholic High School in Florida on Tuesday, sending smoke from the roof and prompting an emergency response.
The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg said emergency crews were at the school as they assessed the damage. Students and staff inside the building were reported to be safe, and no injuries had been confirmed.
Parents and guardians were told that pupils could be collected from the front of the school while firefighters worked to secure the site.
The extent of the damage to the gym roof and the inside of the building remained unclear. Officials had also not said how long the response would continue or when normal school operations would resume.
The diocese urged members of the community to support those dealing with the incident.
“Please pray for our firefighters, first responders and the entire school community,” it said in a public statement.
