Three people have been hospitalised after a massive swarm of bees invaded an Intel manufacturing campus in Chandler, Arizona, United States, and stung several employees.
Firefighters were called to Intel’s Ocotillo campus on Monday morning following reports of multiple people being attacked by the swarm. According to reports, one person suffered a large number of bee stings.
Ten people were reportedly treated by emergency responders at the facility, while three victims were taken to hospital in stable condition.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the bees to become agitated or prompted the swarm to attack people at the manufacturing site.
Intel, one of the world’s major semiconductor companies, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and operates facilities across the United States and other parts of the world. The company describes Arizona as a key U.S. manufacturing hub.
In March 2021, Intel announced plans to construct two new semiconductor factories in Chandler as part of its expansion. One of the facilities is now operational, while the company says its activities contribute about $10.7 billion to Arizona’s economy annually.
The latest incident comes months after another serious bee attack in the Phoenix area.
In April, Phoenix firefighters rescued a hiker who reportedly suffered more than 100 bee stings while descending Lookout Mountain. The man was unable to continue his journey and was eventually airlifted to hospital in critical condition. His subsequent condition was not immediately known.
Following that incident, the Phoenix Fire Department advised members of the public to avoid disturbing bee hives, avoid strongly scented products while outdoors and wear light-coloured clothing.
The department also urged anyone who encounters a swarm to move away quickly while protecting the head and face.
