4 students hospitalized due to toxic chemical in Leyte
BAYBAY City Senior High School. (FB)
TACLOBAN CITY – Four senior high school students were hospitalized after allegedly inhaling a toxic chemical at Baybay City Senior High School in Baybay City, Leyte on Thursday, July 9.
The incident was reported to the Baybay City Police Station at around 2:30 p.m. by a concerned citizen.
Victims said they were suddenly exposed to an odorless substance at around 2 p.m. inside Room 18. They lost consciousness and suffered throat and eye irritation, nasal pain, skin irritation, and vomiting.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Baybay Fire Station found no traces of chemicals or hazardous residues in the school.
The BFP-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) and Hazardous Materials (HazMat) team ruled out natural causes for the victims’ symptoms and noted that initial findings suggest the incident may have been caused by an unidentified individual.
Authorities are conducting laboratory tests to identify the exact substance the victims were exposed to.
The victims are recovering at the Immaculate Conception Hospital in Baybay City. Follow-up investigation is ongoing.