Three critically hurt after aggressive swarm stings 24 people; hive relocated for safety
In an unexpected and alarming incident, dozens of people were stung by a swarm of bees in the town of Aurillac, located in central-southern France, on Sunday morning, leaving three individuals in critical condition.
According to local officials, 24 passersby suffered multiple stings during the surprise attack. Among the severely injured was a 78-year-old woman who reportedly sustained 25 stings and went into cardiorespiratory arrest before being successfully resuscitated. Authorities have since confirmed that all three critically injured victims are now in stable condition.
Panic in the streets and emergency response
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as bees descended upon the public. One local, Andrée, told French media:
“I saw very panicked people waving their arms and running — I didn’t realize at first it was a bee attack.”
Police and firefighters quickly responded, sealing off the affected area while a professional beekeeper used smoke to calm the aggressive swarm — a standard technique used to safely manage bee colonies.
What triggered the attack?
Initial speculation pointed to the presence of Asian hornets, known predators of honey bees, potentially agitating the hive. Aurillac Mayor Pierre Mathonier suggested the hornets may have provoked the colony.
However, Christian Carrier, head of the regional beekeepers’ union, expressed doubt over this explanation.
“Bees usually stay inside when hornets are around. It’s possible the hive had grown too large and was mishandled, triggering aggression.”
Other factors could also be at play. According to Vincent Fournier, the mayor’s chief of staff, stress on the queen bee, unusual weather patterns, or even food shortages due to early blossoming followed by drought may have influenced the bees’ abnormal behavior.
Hive removed, investigation underway
Authorities confirmed that the problematic beehives have now been removed and relocated outside of Aurillac to prevent further incidents. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the mass attack.
Bee-related attacks of this scale are extremely rare in France, and this incident has reignited debates about climate change, invasive species, and urban beekeeping safety protocols.
Bee attack injures several dozen in France
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