BACOLOD CITY – Twenty-one senior high school students from three campuses of a private school reportedly fainted during an alleged case of mass hysteria in Barangay Sagua Banwa, Valladolid town, Negros Occidental province, on Wednesday night, Oct. 22.

Al John Gegonia, operations and warning officer of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said the incident occurred during the school’s intramurals, which gathered about 200 Grades 11 and 12 students from Valladolid, Bacolod, and Ilog campuses.

The students participated in a morning parade followed by various sports and games. After the whole day activity, they were advised by teachers to stay overnight in tents to rest before returning to their respective campuses the next day, due to the distance of their campuses from Valladolid.

However, at around 5 p.m., a power outage occurred following heavy rainfall. By 8 p.m., local rescuers received a call for assistance after several students reportedly felt dizzy and unwell.

The affected students were immediately brought to a hospital and were discharged the following day, Oct. 23.

Some students were evacuated to Saint John Paul Church in Barangay Zone 1 Tabao Proper before they were allowed to go home.

“Based on our findings, the incident was classified as a mass hysteria episode. It appeared to be a domino effect triggered by emotional stress, fatigue, and fear, which led to panic among the students,” Gegonia said.

He noted that while the MDRRMO monitored the area closely since the school is near their office, there was no coordination with their team prior to the event, only on the barangay level.

After the incident, a psychological debriefing was conducted for the students, teachers, and parents to address trauma and reinforce proper emergency coordination in future activities.

Gegonia emphasized the importance of securing permits and briefing students before holding similar events.

Classes were suspended on Thursday, Oct. 23, to allow students time to rest and recover.