One schoolchild is critically ill and at least 56 more have been hospitalised after a mystery mass poisoning at a school in Mexico.
It was the third mass poisoning in the same area of the north American country in the last two weeks, news that has scared pupils and enraged parents.
The 57 students in Friday's incident were taken to hospital, with some seen in video footage being carried from the school by their parents, who rushed to help.
The Mexican Social Security Institute confirmed that 57 teenage students in the rural community of Bochil had arrived at a local hospital with symptoms of poisoning.
The most seriously unwell youngster had been transferred to a hospital in the state's capital, while the rest were said to be stable.
Officials have not speculated on any reason for the poisoning.
Local media however has said some parents believed the incident happened due to students’ contaminated water or food.
Bochil executives said in a statement they were outraged by the incident and were cooperating with the state attorney’s investigation.
“We are outraged by these events,” leaders of Bochil said in a statement, adding that they are collaborating with a state prosecutor’s investigation.
Authorities have said 15 poisoning tests had been carried out so far and all results were negative for illicit drugs.
Local media have reported two previous cases of mass poisoning in the city of Tapachula, affecting dozens of students.
No arrests have been made.
