A semitrailer carrying hundreds of honeybee hives overturned in East Texas, releasing millions of bees and prompting emergency officials to warn residents to stay indoors while crews worked to contain the swarm.

Incident Details

The crash happened Sunday in Orange County, near the community of Mauriceville, northeast of Beaumont, and near the Louisiana border. The truck was transporting more than 400 hives when the trailer tipped over, unleashing an estimated 2 million or more honeybees into the surrounding area.

Authorities temporarily closed roads near the crash site and urged residents in the immediate area to remain inside due to what officials described as a “heavy presence of bees.”

Recovery Efforts

Orange County Emergency Services District 4 issued a warning shortly after the crash, advising people living near the affected area to avoid going outside while emergency crews and beekeepers responded.

Local beekeepers quickly mobilized to assist with the recovery effort. Christie Ray, owner of Queen Bee Supply, said volunteers from several beekeeping operations joined forces to help salvage the hives and contain the bees.

Photos shared by Queen Bee Supply showed beekeepers wearing protective gear as they worked amid dense swarms of bees around the overturned trailer.

Chris Moore, owner of Moore Honey, said he and several employees assisted at the scene but estimated that only about a quarter of the 408 hives involved in the crash are likely to survive.

According to Moore, the long-term impact will largely depend on how many queen bees survived the accident. Without a living queen, a hive cannot continue functioning.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.