Doha:Baghdad Iraqi Civil Defense authorities have reported that 61 female students were hospitalized due to a suffocation incident at a girls’ school in Maysan Governorate, located in southern Iraq. The reasons behind the incident are still unclear.

According to Qatar News Agency, a specialized response team for chemical, biological, and radiological incidents was dispatched from Baghdad to investigate the cause. The team conducted preliminary inspections and discovered discarded laboratory materials behind the school.

Authorities have assured that technical personnel are actively conducting assessments and recalibration operations at the school to ensure the safety of students and staff. Last week, health authorities in Maysan reported 84 cases of suffocation at the same school, resulting in hospitalizations for those affected.