About 40 Waipahu Elementary School students and two staff members were sickened by possible food poisoning Tuesday afternoon.

Some were in serious condition, when Emergency Medical Services arrived after 2:30 p.m. today.

About 25 students were taken by three ambulances and a city bus with an EMS paramedic on board, to four different hospitals, Department of Emergency Services spokeswoman Shayne Enright said.

Of that number, 16 children and one woman were in serious condition and nine children and one man were in stable condition when EMS transported them to the hospitals, Enright said.

Enright said more students were sick, but some were taken by their parents to the hospital.

Department of Education spokesman Donalyn Dela Cruz said students ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade fell ill today beginning at about 1:15 p.m., vomiting after lunch.

Parents were notified when students were transported to hospitals, Dela Cruz said.

Some of the older children began getting sick at the afterschool program, she said.

Dela Cruz said the Department of Health has been notified.

The investigation is focused on the school lunch.