By CESAR JOLITO III

Twenty-one senior high school students from a private institution were hospitalized after reportedly fainting during what authorities have classified as a case of mass hysteria during their intramural games at Barangay Sagua Banwa in Negros Occidental’s Valladolid town on Wednesday night, October 22.

According to Al John Gegonia, operations and warning officer of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the incident occurred during an overnight activity that gathered around 200 Grades 11 and 12 students from the school’s campuses in Valladolid, Bacolod City and Ilog town.

The students had spent the day joining sports events and a morning parade as part of the school’s intramurals. They were later instructed to stay overnight in tents before heading home the next day, given the long travel distance between campuses.

However, at around 5:00 p.m., a power outage struck the area following heavy rain. By 8:00 p.m., local responders received a distress call as several students began feeling dizzy, anxious and eventually lost consciousness.

Rescuers from the MDRRMO and barangay officials rushed to the site, bringing the affected students to a nearby hospital.

All were declared in stable condition and discharged the following day, October 23.

Some students were also temporarily evacuated to Saint John Paul Church in Barangay Zone 1, Tabao Proper, before being allowed to return home.

“Based on our findings, the episode was consistent with mass hysteria triggered by stress, fatigue and fear during the blackout,” Gegonia said, adding that the emotional tension among students appeared to have caused a domino effect of panic.

He also disclosed that the school did not coordinate with the MDRRMO prior to the event — only at the barangay level — despite the activity’s proximity to the disaster office.

Following the incident, the MDRRMO facilitated a psychological debriefing for students, teachers and parents to help manage trauma and emphasize the importance of mental health support and emergency preparedness.

Gegonia reminded schools to secure proper permits and coordinate with disaster officials before conducting large-scale events, especially overnight activities.

Classes were suspended on Thursday, October 23, to allow students to rest and recover./CJ, WDJ