The number of students admitted after suffering a gas poisoning while at their pre-university school in Matanzas has risen to 35.
The adolescents, students of the José Luis Dubrocq pre-university institute, are receiving care at the pediatric hospital "Eliseo Noel Caamaño" and none are in serious condition.
According to what was revealed to the newspaper Girón , Julio Hernández Sánchez, the director of the medical institution, a group of patients without symptoms have arrived, brought by their parents, and the protocol establishes that they should be admitted. They are evaluated and kept under observation for at least four hours.
"No change has occurred in the patients' report, they remain stable, reported as under care and showing favorable progress," he said.
"The four that are in intermediate therapy must remain in that room for about 24 hours due to their comorbidities, but not because of the severity," he clarified.
This afternoon, the first medical discharges should start to take place.
The patients are between 15 and 18 years old. Most are in the respiratory room, although there are six under observation.
For the moment, the authorities have only reported that they were poisoned "by inhalation of a substance of currently unknown origin."
The incident occurred this Friday on the second floor of the school, where several students began to feel dizzy, experienced difficulty breathing, and had redness, after sensing a strong smell of gas.
In response to the emergency, the school was evacuated and the affected students received immediate attention.
The authorities of the Communist Party, the Government, the Provincial Education, and the Ministry of the Interior deployed a commission to investigate the causes of the gas leak. Testimonies from students indicate that the smell may have been caused by a substance similar to acrylic, which rapidly spread throughout the building and left several young people unconscious.
According to a witness to the events reported to CiberCuba, the same youths and teachers had to evacuate and stop a bus and vehicles to urgently transport those who inhaled the chemical and were unconscious. Many were already fainting upon arrival at the hospital, and others collapsed as they got off the bus.
"The curious thing is that not even 15 minutes have passed, and the State Security is already here. The kids don’t know what has happened. They are confused. They say that one of them was really brave and entered the classroom where they felt it the strongest (the gas) and helped several classmates who were almost fainting. He kept saying that it was a strong smell of acrylic," he added.
Frequently asked questions about the gas leak at the school in Matanzas
How many students were hospitalized due to the gas leak in Matanzas?
The number of students affected by the gas leak at the school in Matanzas has risen to 35 hospitalized students who are being treated at the "Eliseo Noel Caamaño" pediatric hospital.
What is the health status of the students affected by the gas leak?
The students affected by the gas leak are in stable condition, with a favorable evolution and no danger to their lives. Some are under observation, while others require care in intermediate therapy due to comorbidities.
What measures have the authorities taken regarding the gas incident in Matanzas?
Local authorities have evacuated the school and deployed an investigation commission to determine the causes of the gas leak. This commission includes members from the Communist Party of Cuba, the Government, Provincial Education, and the Ministry of the Interior.
What clues do the students have about the cause of the gas leak?
Student testimonies indicate that the strong odor detected may have been caused by a substance similar to acrylic, which rapidly spread throughout the building, causing symptoms of poisoning.
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