In a rare incident, a swarm of bees injured numerous individuals in Aurillac, a town in central-southern France, with three people requiring urgent hospitalization, as per local authorities.
On Sunday morning, twenty-four pedestrians were affected when hundreds of bees launched an unexpected attack. Fortunately, the three individuals who were in critical condition have since stabilized. Among them was a 78-year-old woman who suffered 25 stings and required resuscitation following a cardiorespiratory incident.
Emergency services swiftly cordoned off the area, enlisting a beekeeper’s help to safely calm the agitated bees using smoke.
Eyewitness Andrée recounted seeing people in distress, desperately trying to fend off the swarm. She remarked, “I could tell they were being attacked by something, but I couldn’t figure out what.”
The mayor, Pierre Mathonier, suggested that the bees might have reacted aggressively due to the presence of Asian hornets, which threaten their colonies. Nonetheless, regional beekeepers’ union president Christian Carrier expressed doubt, asserting that bees generally remain in their hives when facing hornets. Instead, he proposed that overcrowding in the hive might have triggered the unexpected aggression.
Vincent Fournier, the mayor’s chief of staff, noted other possible factors like queen bee issues or environmental stressors. He confirmed the relocation of the affected beehives to prevent further incidents, while Marseille Provence airport was shut down due to smoke affecting the area, prompting residents to remain indoors.
Source: www.bbc.com
