East Lyme ― Toilets in multiple high school bathrooms backed up Wednesday, forcing students to shelter in place for their safety before they were dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

“The shelter in place was put in effect due to sewage backup,” said high school Principal Deb Roselli Kelly. “At no point in time were students or staff in any danger.”

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton in an email said the administration told students to shelter in place so they would not slip and fall after the toilets overflowed and leaked into the hallways.

He said he did not have a total number of bathrooms affected.

Newton said staff members are working to identify the source of the problem while custodial staff clean the school.

He said the problem would “hopefully be rectified soon.”

He said the situation did not require a response from the police or fire department.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Kelly announced the water problem was resolved, and custodial crews were working to sanitize the school, which will reopen Thursday.