The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Antique confirmed that at least 29 persons, mostly students, fell ill after smelling fumes of a yet unidentified chemical in Barangay Egaña, Sibalom town. 

The vapors smelled reportedly like that of guavas, PDRRMO said based on accounts gathered from affected students on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

In an interview with PDRRMO Head Broderick Train by GMA Super Radyo Iloilo, at least 19 persons were rushed to the Ramon Masa Memorial General Hospital, while 10 were attended to at a Triage Area set up in Barangay Egaña.

Students affected are from Egaña Elementary School and Egaña National High School.

According to Train, a farmer surrendered to the Sibalom Police and admitted spraying a type of pesticide.

Classes have been suspended afternoon on September 10, 2025 to give way to an investigation. | 

To recall, hundreds of students from Pis-anan National High School, also in Sibalom were rushed to different hospitals in June 2025 after smelling toxic fumes that smelled like rotten guavas.

(via Melanie Ferrer, Danessa Estante/GMA Super Radyo Iloilo)