Authorities in the French town of Aurillac have confirmed that three people remain in critical but stable condition following an unusual bee attack that injured 24 individuals.
The rare incident unfolded in the central-southern town, where hundreds of bees suddenly swarmed and stung passersby in a public area.
Among the most seriously affected was a 78-year-old woman who suffered 25 stings and reportedly went into cardiorespiratory arrest before being resuscitated by emergency services.
Police and firefighters quickly cordoned off the area while a local beekeeper was called in to safely disperse the swarm using smoke, a method commonly used to calm agitated bees.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. “I saw very panicked people trying to bat something off,” said a local resident named Andrée. “At first, I couldn’t tell what was going on.”
Initial speculation suggested the attack may have been triggered by Asian hornets threatening a nearby hive, a theory proposed by Aurillac Mayor Pierre Mathonier. However, that explanation has been challenged by experts.
Christian Carrier, president of the regional beekeepers’ union, expressed doubt, telling France Info that bees typically avoid leaving their hives in the presence of Asian hornets. Instead, he suggested the aggression may have stemmed from the colony outgrowing its hive.
“If the bees didn’t have enough space and weren’t intending to swarm, handling the hive could have provoked a heightened defensive response,” Mr Carrier explained.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the precise cause of the rare mass attack, while those hospitalised are being closely monitored.
