Swarm of Giant Honeybees Attacks Naga Procession, Injuring 11 People and Forcing Parade to Halt
Giant honeybees attacked a ceremonial naga procession at a temple in Nakhon Ratchasima on May 17, injuring 11 people and forcing the parade to halt. Loud music from the procession startled bee colonies on the temple ceiling, triggering the
A swarm of giant honeybees attacked a naga procession at Wat Klangdong temple in Klangdong subdistrict, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province on May 17, 2025, injuring 11 people. Subdistrict administrator Raden Peng Nuam immediately coordinated rescue efforts, mobilizing rescue units from Klangdong and Siammongkol subdistricts along with ambulances from Pak Chong Nana Hospital.
When rescue teams arrived, they found injured men, women, and children who had fled the temple and gathered at the Wat Klangdong School sports field, approximately 100 meters from the main ordination hall. First responders administered pain relief and topical ointments to those stung by bees. In total, 11 people were injured—three men with severe pain and breathing difficulty were taken to Mueaklek Hospital, while eight others, including women and children, received treatment at Pak Chong Nana Hospital.
Investigation revealed that before the incident, a ceremonial naga procession was underway in three rounds, led by a small vehicle with amplified speakers playing music. After nearly two rounds, two large bee colonies on the temple's ceiling were startled by the loud noise and swarmed, attacking the procession participants and scattering the crowd. The parade could not be completed as planned. The prospective monks entering ordination were not injured and were safely brought into the ordination hall to complete their ordination ceremony without incident.
