Authorities in Aurillac, France, reported on Monday that three individuals remain in “critical but stable condition” following a rare bee attack over the weekend that left 24 people injured.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning in the central-southern town, when a swarm of bees abruptly attacked passersby, resulting in injuries to two dozen and the hospitalization of three in critical condition.
Local media reports indicate that one of the critically injured is a 78-year-old woman who sustained 25 stings and required resuscitation after experiencing cardiorespiratory arrest.
Law enforcement and firefighters cordoned off the area, and a beekeeper was summoned to implement smoke techniques, a method known to safely pacify the insects.
Andrée, a local resident, recounted witnessing “very panicked people” attempting to fend off the bees. “I could tell they were being attacked by something but I couldn’t figure out what,” she told French media outlets.
Pierre Mathonier, the mayor of Aurillac, suggested that Asian hornets posing a threat to a beehive may have triggered the aggressive behavior.
However, Christian Carrier, president of the regional beekeepers’ union, expressed skepticism regarding this explanation.
Speaking to France Info, Carrier stated that bees typically avoid leaving their colonies when Asian hornets are present.
Instead, he proposed that the unusual event may be attributed to the bee colony exceeding the capacity of its hive and becoming “overactive” during handling by the beekeeper.
“It may be that [the bees] didn’t have enough space and that their colony had no intention of swarming. This can trigger strong aggression,” Carrier explained.
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