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Three people were hospitalised after a swarm of bees attacked dozens of people in a French town on Sunday, local authorities have said.
The incident occurred in Aurillac, which is located in the Cantal prefecture in the country’s southern region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, at around 10am.
Passers-by were attacked by the bees in the centre of the town.
In total, 24 people, including three firefighters, were stung by the insects, which came from hives installed nearby on the roof of the town’s large Bordeaux hotel, according to the mayor and the prefecture.
Three of the victims were treated by the emergency services, before being admitted to hospital after suffering allergic reactions to the stings.
One octogenarian suffered a cardiac arrest but was able to be resuscitated.
The condition of the victims had stabilised by Sunday afternoon, according to the fire brigade, while an investigation was opened by the public prosecutor’s office.
The bees’ aggressive behaviour is thought to be linked to the presence of Asian hornets near the hives. These larger predators may have provoked a defensive reaction from the smaller insects.
The Aurillac police and technical services set up a security perimeter in the area until the situation was brought “under control”.
Following the incident, the mayor of Aurillac, Pierre Mathonier, said he was considering banning the presence of beehives in his municipality.
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