An unusual bee attack in the French town of Aurillac injured 24 people, with three initially in critical condition who have since shown improvement, according to local officials.
The incident occurred over roughly 30 minutes on Sunday morning, the Cantal prefecture in south-central France reported. Emergency responders treated those affected, while authorities secured the area until the bees stopped their aggression.
The three most severely injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital. Aurillac’s mayor, Pierre Mathonier, stated on Monday that their health had progressed positively.
One victim, a 78-year-old, required resuscitation following cardiorespiratory failure.
Mathonier suggested that the attack may have been prompted by Asian hornets disturbing a beehive situated on a hotel rooftop terrace for over ten years, provoking the bees into defensive behavior.
The beekeeper later removed the hive and relocated it outside the town.
Lt. Col. Michel Cayla, overseeing local fire services, remarked that he had never witnessed such an incident before. "Given the number of victims, the public distress, and the severity of injuries, it was remarkable," he told TF1.
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