A minimum of 184 college students handed out or reported signs from coloured smoke inhalation on the Bicol College occasion as college officers vow accountability
ALBAY, Philippines – Tons of of Bicol College (BU) freshmen and sophomore college students who joined Hataw 2025 had been rushed for medical therapy after affected by respiration issues and suffocation on Monday night, October 20.
The annual mass demonstration custom, which was meant to kickstart the college’s largest sports activities competition, was overwhelmed by extreme coloured smoke utilized by organizers in an try to make the occasion “grander and extra colourful.”
Julia Beatrice Basco, one of many student-participants who received rushed out of the venue after passing out, described the incident as a “very traumatic expertise.”
“The smoke turned an excessive amount of. I couldn’t see something anymore. I began to really feel dizzy and my eyes had been hurting. I’ve delicate lungs, so it was onerous for me to breathe. We thought it was only a small smoke bomb…I attempted to maneuver away, however I couldn’t. Every thing felt blurry…All I do know is somebody carried me to the clinic,” Basco wrote in a Fb publish.
Basco was one among 184 college students who reportedly skilled signs associated to coloured smoke inhalation, based on the BU-College Well being Providers, which advised Rappler that the college workers stayed till previous 1 am to deal with the victims and rush them to close by hospitals.
“The medical crew actually took care of us, even when college students had been dashing into the clinic one after one other,” Basco stated. “This was a really traumatic expertise. I by no means imagined it might finish like this. I used to be anticipating pleased recollections, however as an alternative, I received rushed to the clinic.”
When used closely, pyrotechnics like coloured smoke bombs launch giant quantities of nanoparticles and heavy metals. The chemical response that causes these emissions also can set off respiratory irritation, coughing, and complications.
Hospitalized college students
Renelyn Bautista, Bicol College’s communications and public relations director, confirmed that at the very least 15 college students had been admitted to close by hospitals as a result of incident, six of whom had been from the School of Arts and Letters.
“Proper after the incident, the college president together with the college workers additionally rushed and visited the scholars….We’re carrying [out] regardless of the college can do to assist the scholars, particularly as a result of above all else, we have to prioritize the security and welfare of the scholars who had been affected,” Bautista stated.
BU college president Dr. Child Boy Benjamin Nebres III advised Rappler that he and the administration assume full duty and can take accountability for the incident. He promised to ship the required assist and assist to the affected college students.
“We’re constantly monitoring the scholars who joined Hataw and used the college car to select them up from their dormitories after receiving experiences that some have skilled respiration difficulties however gone dwelling to their dormitories,” Nebres shared. “We wished to guarantee that the scholars will obtain sufficient assist and medical consideration to make sure that they’re protected.”
Following the tragedy, BU established recurrent monitoring for all affected college students, significantly inside 12 to 24 hours post-event. Medical workers had been deployed to clinics and the principle library for follow-up check-ups, whereas officers, together with Nebres, visited the scholars who had been hospitalized.
Demanding accountability
In the meantime, the BUCAL-School Pupil Council decried the organizers’ lack of foresight, arguing they failed to contemplate that contributors had been already exhausted from the parade and the dance. The council issued a assertion demanding the suspension of the BU Olympics and known as on the administration to take accountability.
“College students deserve a protected and inclusive atmosphere — not one which endangers them only for the sake of look,” the council stated. “The well-being of the scholars ought to by no means be compromised for presentation or efficiency.”
Nebres stated they instantly suspended the sports activities competition and fashioned a process power to analyze the incident and “go to the underside of all the pieces.” Based on BU, the duty power contains college officers and exterior consultants in toxicology, chemistry, and drugs.
“We gave the duty power three days to analyze the incident, and by then, we are able to know the total particulars with their findings which are a product of due diligence,” Nebres defined.
He added, “That is already a nationwide concern with the nationwide authorities — together with the Division of Well being, the Division of Social Welfare and Growth, and the Fee on Larger Training — additionally wanting into the matter. As per BU, I promise that I’ll take full duty.”
Whereas the investigation continues to be ongoing, BU is shouldering the medical bills and has pledged steady assist for all college students who require medical care. – Rappler.com
