Bee Attack in France Leaves Three Critical and Dozens Injured

Three individuals remain in serious condition after a swarm of bees attacked a group of people in Aurillac, France, over the weekend, leaving 24 others injured. The alarming incident occurred Sunday morning when the bees descended upon unsuspecting passersby. Local officials reported that a 78-year-old woman was stung multiple times and subsequently suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, necessitating immediate resuscitation. Witnesses described a scene of chaos, with individuals frantically trying to defend themselves against the onslaught.

Mayor Pierre Mathonier suggested that the aggression could have been prompted by Asian hornets threatening a nearby beehive. However, Christian Carrier, president of the regional beekeepers' union, expressed skepticism about this theory, stating that bees typically don't leave their colonies when faced with predators. Carrier proposed that the disturbance might stem from the colony being overpopulated or stressed due to improper handling by the beekeeper, leading to aggressive behavior.

Local firefighters and police quickly secured the area and enlisted a beekeeper to safely remove the bees, employing smoke to calm them down and mitigate further danger to the public. As authorities investigate the cause of the attack, residents remain shaken by the unexpected incident.