Suspected chemical leak in Baybay City school sickens 4 students

TACLOBAN CITY — Four Grade 12 students of Baybay City Senior High School were hospitalized on Thursday afternoon after experiencing respiratory and skin irritation, vomiting, and, in some cases, loss of consciousness following exposure to an as yet unidentified substance inside a classroom, authorities said.

The incident occurred at around 2 p.m. in Room 18 of Baybay City Senior High School, located at 30 de Diciembre Street in Baybay City, Leyte.

The victims, all 17 years old, consisted of two male and two female students. Police withheld their identities because they are minors.

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According to the Baybay City Police Station, authorities received a report at around 2:30 p.m. that several students had collapsed due to a suspected chemical leak inside the school.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Baybay Fire Station, the lead responding unit, and the Baybay City Police Station immediately proceeded to the campus to assess the situation.

Equipped with hazardous materials protective gear, BFP personnel conducted a thorough inspection of the school premises but found no trace of a chemical leak, hazardous substance, or residue.

The affected students told investigators they were inside their classroom when they suddenly sensed exposure to an odorless substance. They later complained of burning sensations in their eyes and throats, nasal pain, skin irritation, and vomiting, while some lost consciousness.

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The students were rushed to Immaculate Conception Hospital for treatment. Authorities said they are now in stable condition but remain under medical observation.

Based on its initial assessment, the BFP said natural causes appeared unlikely. Fire personnel trained in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) response and hazardous materials operations said the incident may have involved an unidentified substance or agent. However, they stressed that this remains a preliminary finding and is still under investigation.

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Authorities have coordinated with the Regional Forensic Unit 8 in Ormoc City to conduct laboratory examinations to determine the nature and composition of the substance that the students allegedly inhaled.

The incident comes as schools across Eastern Visayas have heightened campus safety measures following the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which killed three students and injured 20 others. However, authorities said there is no indication that Thursday’s incident is connected to any other event.

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Police and fire investigators are continuing their inquiry to determine the source of the suspected substance and whether foul play was involved./coa