Accident Bee Swarm Injures 11 Pupils at Udon Thani School

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek.

 

Eleven primary school pupils were rushed to hospital in Udon Thani province on 22 July, after being stung by a swarm of bees that emerged from a nest hidden inside an old speaker. The incident occurred at Ban Pa Kao School in Phak Tob subdistrict, Nong Han district, during a late-morning rainstorm.

 

Emergency responders and rescue units arrived promptly at the scene, where nine boys and two girls were suffering from multiple bee stings. All students were taken to Nong Han Hospital for immediate treatment. Most have since returned to school, although two pupils are being kept in hospital and monitored for possible allergic reactions.

 

The event unfolded when school staff attempted to remove an old speaker mounted on the second floor of the school building, fearing it might fall due to strong winds and rain brought on by tropical storm Wipha. Unbeknownst to them, a colony of bees had built a nest inside. When the speaker was moved, the bees swarmed, flying into a nearby classroom and stinging children in a panic.

 

“I was in class with my friends when suddenly a swarm of bees flew in,” said one of the pupils. “They started stinging everyone. We ran in all directions. Some of us were stung multiple times, on the arms and legs. The doctor gave us allergy medicine, but it still hurts.”

 

Ms. Kanchanaporn Kamphaengrat, the school’s headteacher, expressed relief that no children suffered life-threatening injuries. She noted, however, that the incident highlighted serious infrastructure issues. “This building is old. The ceilings and windows are deteriorating. We’ve requested repairs from the local education authority for the past seven years but have received no funding. We’re forced to rely on community donations and fundraising events like temple fairs to keep the school safe.”

 

She added that the school, which serves 226 students, had even started constructing its own perimeter fence after a mentally disturbed individual broke into the school grounds in a previous incident.

 

“Our top concern is the safety of our students,” Ms. Kanchanaporn said. “We’ve waited years for official help. Now we’re doing what we can with what little we have.”

 

Despite the scare, classes have resumed as normal, and students who were stung are under observation to ensure a full recovery. The school continues to appeal for government support to repair the ageing infrastructure and improve safety for its pupils.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Komchadluek 2025-07-24