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This is the chilling moment 22 schoolgirls - aged between 12 and 15 - 'suffered mass demonic possession' after playing a game of 'Charlie Charlie'.

The children were screaming, writhing and hallucinating - and some were even foaming at the mouth.

One victim claimed she could see a 'man dressed in black' while possessed - and locals are praying against witchcraft as authorities warn against playing the game.

The traumatic incident happened on Saturday in the Choco region of Colombia which borders with Panama.

The children were rushed from their school to to a medical centre in Nóvita - all suffering with the same symptoms.

Chaotic scenes can be seen on video footage taken at the hospital which shows children being held down while fitting on the floor.

Local News Caracol reports the incident occurred during the school day, when girls from different classrooms began acting strangely - as well as suffering seizures and fainting.

It was reported that they were playing a game of 'Charlie Charlie' - a simplified version of Magic 8-Ball where teenagers use balanced pencils to produce answers to questions they ask.

At first just four teenagers were taken to the health centre by their teachers - but minutes later other groups followed - putting stress on the emergency department's resources.

Parents told the media that all girls were screaming and writhing.

Doctor Jair Ruiz said: "They came in screaming, mumbling incoherently, hallucinating, foaming at the mouth."

After conducting several medical tests to rule out disease, intoxication or use of hallucinogenic substances, experts failed to uncover any consistent health problems whatsoever and the girls' vital signs returned to normal.

One of the girls is said to have explained what she saw while she was possessed.

She said: "There was a man dressed in black and he said that a child had the sheet with red letters and if he burned the sheet, we kill them all. "

Local mayor Deyler Camacho asked villagers to remain calm and not to allow this case to develop into collective hysteria.

Authorities have been visiting every child affected - along with 'spiritual advisors'.

Local pastor César Perea meanwhile prayed against witchcraft.

According to RCN something similar happened last year when seven girls from this region had to be treated for "odd behaviour" after playing the game 'Charlie Charlie' - and officials warned against this.

One affected child said afterwards: "You can end up dead playing these games because it's the work of the devil."