Terrifying footage shows the moment a group of students fled for their lives as a strong storm ripped the roof of their gymnasium.
Three fifth-grade students were taken to hospital after the storm ravaged through Union Intermediate Elementary School in North Carolina on Monday.
Video shows a teacher and the group of 10 to 11-year-olds running towards the exit as bricks and wooden beams start falling on top of them.
The strong winds blew off the back of the gymnasium, sending debris across the hall.
Principal Dondi Hobbs said the stage curtain was closed at the time, which helped reduced the damage as it served as a buffer between the students and debris.
He said: "I am appreciative of God's blessings.
"He takes care of us and directs us all the time."
Wendy Cabral, a spokeswoman for Sampson County told ABC News : "The students were doing their gym activities and all of a sudden it's just debris starts flowing in and you see the sky."
The injured students were sent to hospital and have since been discharged.
The extent of their injuries, however, is currently unknown.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed on Tuesday that a microburst occurred near Union Intermediate Elementary School shortly after 2:00pm on Monday, according to ABC12 .
Meteorologists were said to have visited the school to complete a storm survey.
A combination of the damage and debris pattern, radar data helped the authority to determine that a wet mircoburst took place near the school and its subsequent winds caused damage.
The NWS said the storm had estimated wind speeds of 85 miles per hour.
