Venezuela schools face wave of mass poisonings

Multiple educational institutions in Venezuela have reported incidents of mass poisoning involving students, teachers, and staff. In Táchira state, a recent event at the La Morita Educational Unit affected 68 people, including 42 minors, who experienced respiratory issues, skin irritation, and dizziness. This follows a similar incident in the Vega de Aza community on October 15, where 29 people were affected by an unknown chemical agent.

In Aragua state, at least eight people were evacuated from the Pilar Pelgrón Basic National School in Maracay after inhaling particulate matter, reportedly caused by maintenance work involving grinding tools in a laboratory. Additionally, a separate incident at Colegio Luis Rivas involved students and a teacher suffering symptoms after consuming candies.

Governor Freddy Bernal has requested investigations by the CICPC to determine if these chemical inhalations are criminal in nature. Human rights activist Javier Tarazona, president of Fundaredes, has criticized the lack of institutional transparency and called for international mediation from the International Committee of the Red Cross to oversee the safety of these schools.