268 students in Sibalom, Antique fall ill from foul-smelling, possibly toxic substance

At least 268 students were hospitalized after they inhaled a “rotten, guava-like” smell in Sibalom, Antique province, the Antique provincial government said in a post late Wednesday evening.

“The odor, believed to be from a toxic substance, triggered a surge of emergency hospital admissions on Wednesday morning,” the LGU said.  

It added that the patients experienced symptoms such as fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and chills.

The provincial government also said that the stench was most concentrated around the Pis-anan National High School, but also spread to other parts of Barangay Pis-anan.

As the investigation is ongoing, in-person classes for elementary and high school in the barangay remain suspended.

The Provincial Department of Health Office said it has collected samples around the schools to identify the substance, noting that it will take about seven to 10 days for the results.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health recommended hosing down school buildings and facilities to eliminate possible traces of toxins, with the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In a July 2 statement, Antique Governor Paolo Javier called for additional medical staff and resources, such as folding beds, for both hospitals to respond to the incident.

With a surge of patients, the Ramon Maza Sr. Memorial District Hospital is at capacity, and some students were brought to the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital.

Both hospitals are on high alert due to the incident. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News