An estimated 250 million bees were released after a truck overturned in the US state of Washington on Friday, forcing authorities to issue warnings for the public to avoid the area due to the risk of stings.
The truck, which was carrying about 31,750 kilograms of active beehives, overturned near the Canadian border, writes A2 CNN. Local authorities were helped by dozens of professional beekeepers to manage the situation.
“Our goal is to save as many bees as possible,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said. The crash site was closed to the public while the rescue operation was completed. Footage released by authorities showed thousands of bees circling the overturned truck, with parts of the truck, such as the hood and roof, covered in bees. “250 million bees are free,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a social media post. “Avoid the area due to the risk of bee stings and swarms.”
Beekeepers worked with police to put the hives back in place and help the bees find their queen, a process that authorities said could take 24 to 48 hours. In a later update, police thanked the beekeeping community for their help, noting that more than 24 people volunteered to help with the rescue operation.
While some beekeepers produce only honey, others rent out hives to assist farmers in the process of pollinating crops, a vital part of modern agriculture. (A2 Televizion)
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