Thirteen Pupils Injured After Wasp Nest Disturbed at School

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

Thirteen primary school children were injured, three seriously, after a swarm of wasps attacked them at Wat Mukthara School in Pak Nakhon subdistrict, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The incident occurred around 16:00 on 22 May, shortly after school had finished for the day. According to initial reports, a male student threw a rock at a wasp nest lodged beneath the eaves of a classroom building. The impact shattered the nest, provoking an aggressive response from the Asian hornets (commonly known in Thai as “tor hua suea”).

The children, both boys and girls, were caught near the nest and quickly overwhelmed by the swarm. Panic ensued as students ran in all directions, some colliding with one another in the confusion.

Emergency responders from the Pracharuamjai Foundation rushed to the scene, where they provided first aid and transported the injured pupils to a nearby subdistrict hospital. Of the 13 children stung, three exhibited severe allergic reactions and were urgently transferred to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital for further treatment. The remaining ten children continued to receive care locally but will also be moved if their conditions worsen.

Teachers and parents described the situation as chaotic, with many adults frantically trying to help the children to safety.

Authorities are now reviewing school safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. The school has yet to confirm what actions will be taken regarding the damaged nest or the student believed to have provoked the swarm.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-24.