Four Philippine students hospitalised after exposure to unidentified chemical substance

Four grade 12 students at Baybay City Senior High School in the Philippines were hospitalised on Thursday 9 July after they were allegedly exposed to an unidentified chemical substance inside a classroom.

According to The Manila Times, local police said the victims experienced burning sensations in their throats and eyes, nasal pain, skin irritation, vomiting and, in some cases, loss of consciousness.

Personnel from the fire and police services immediately responded after receiving a report of a suspected chemical leak at the school. Police said firefighters conducted a thorough inspection of the campus while wearing appropriate protective equipment, however they found no trace of any chemical substance or hazardous residue.

Firefighters trained in CBRN threats ruled out the likelihood of a naturally occurring source, prompting investigators to consider that "the incident may have been caused by an unidentified individual", although further investigation is needed. 

The four affected students were taken to hospital, where their condition was described as "stable" but remained under medical observation. Police said the forensics teams has been requested to conduct examinations to determine the nature and composition of the suspected toxic substance inhaled by the students.