A fight broke out Thursday at Lake Worth Community High School on Florida’s east coast, resulting in the use of pepper spray that sent 32 to local hospitals.

The fight erupted at about 12:30 p.m., Palm Beach County Fire Rescue told West Palm Beach’s WPBF-TV.

Neither fire officials nor Palm Beach school district administrators said what sparked the scuffle, but a school spokesperson told The Palm Beach Post that the school’s stationed police officer used the pepper spray and that no weapons were found.

Witnesses said the fight started between two students in the school cafeteria and ballooned, leading the officer to set off the spray.

“A lot of kids were coughing, even about to throw up. It was really bad. There was a lot of screaming, kids were jumping around, pushing each other, there was food thrown in the air and food on the floor,” junior Mercedes Escobar told West Palm Beach’s WPTV-TV.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue transported all those who needed off-site care to the hospitals and cleared the scene by around 3:11 p.m., fire officials posted on X.

The students involved will be punished, school officials said.

“I want to take this opportunity to emphasize that physical altercations are a serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The students involved are now facing disciplinary consequences. Fighting or any form of physical aggression is not tolerated at school,” school Principal Elena Villani said, according to The Post.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.