7 members of a youth group in hospital after lightning strike in Utah

Seven members of a Utah youth group were hospitalized after lightning struck near their hiking site Thursday, officials said.

A Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints youth group from Salina was hiking in eastern Sevier County when it started to rain around 1:45 p.m., the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office said.

The sheriff’s office said 50 of the children felt “the shock of lightning” striking the ground near them as rainwater collected around them.

Seven members of the youth group had “health problems due to an electric shock,” the sheriff’s office said, and were taken by ambulance to Salina Hospital, where their injuries were treated.

Two of the children showed “severe symptoms” and were flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, the sheriff’s office said. No further information on the symptoms was given.

The other five were taken to two other hospitals, officials said.

None of the children hospitalized are expected to have life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

The rest of the group was found and returned to Salina, where they were reunited with their parents, the sheriff’s office said. None of these children reported any health problems.

Sevier County is located 167 miles south of Salt Lake City.