17 hurt in giant bee swarm at Bang Lamung offices

Seventeen people, including 13 schoolchildren, were injured after a swarm of giant honeybees attacked people at the Bang Lamung civic centre in Na Kluea, Chon Buri, on 20 August 2026.

A 71-year-old food vendor, Aranong Wentry, was seriously injured after being stung by what witnesses said were hundreds of bees. The attack happened beside Bang Lamung District Office, near a food and drink sales area beneath a large rain tree.

The civic complex includes Bang Lamung Police Station, the district office and Bang Lamung School.

Vendor and police officer attacked

Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation's Pattaya radio centre sent five ambulances after receiving reports that residents and pupils had been stung. Rescuers initially found 10 injured people waiting for assistance, some with severe allergic reactions and large swollen welts.

They were given first aid before being taken to Pattaya Bhattamakun Hospital.

The final total was 17 injured: four adults - two food vendors, one police officer and one local resident - plus 13 Bang Lamung School pupils.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ratchaphon Seneewong Na Ayutthaya, a deputy investigation inspector at Bang Lamung Police Station, was among those hurt. He had tried to help Aranong after she collapsed under the bee attack.

Jirapha Patcharawisakorn, 58, another food seller at the site, said Aranong, known locally as Pa Uan, had started a fire to grill chicken when bees from the top of the tree began hovering around her.

At first there were only a small number of bees, she said. Less than two minutes later, hundreds reportedly descended and stung Aranong until she fell to the ground.

Ratchaphon ran in to pull her clear but was also swarmed and fell. He later grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed Aranong to drive the bees away, Jirapha said.

Pupils caught while leaving school

The bees also attacked people walking through the area, including pupils who had been allowed to leave school after a power cut meant lessons were suspended that day.

Officials found a large hive, measuring about one metre by one metre, high in the rain tree. Pattaya City's land disaster relief unit used a hydraulic platform for access, to burn the hive immediately in an effort to prevent another attack.

Local residents said a similar bee incident had happened there once before, but it was not as serious as this one.

Pictures courtesy of SiamRath

Join the discussion?

21 August 2026

View full article