90 students hospitalized in Batangas due to hyperventilation

MANILA, Philippines — Ninety students were rushed to hospitals after they fainted  inside a school gymnasium in Batangas, police said Friday.

A report from Bauan Municipal Police said the students of Bauan Technical High School were brought to three hospitals in the town at around 10 a.m.

A team from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Municipal Health Office, and the local police responded to the incident and found that the students suffered from hyperventilation due to overcrowding at the school gymnasium.

Initial reports said there were 40 students rushed to different hospitals, but in a later interview with INQUIRER.net, Lt. Col. Joemar Labiano, chief of Bauan Municipal Police, said the figure was an initial count.

He also said that apart from those who fainted at the gymnasium, another 60 students also fainted at the school due to intense heat while participating in an earthquake drill at around 2 p.m. Thursday.

He said no casualties or injuries were reported, and that all students are now in their homes.

The police official said he does not see any liability on the part of the school since the incident was due to natural causes.

Afternoon classes at the school were suspended after the incident. (Editor: Eden Estopace)