Key Points
- Truck was carrying over 31,000kg of active beehives
- Authorities have cordoned off sections of the area
- Sudden loss of millions of bees could threaten crop productivity
WASHINGTON: A truck transporting millions of honeybees overturned in the north-western United States, prompting emergency alerts from local authorities.
The vehicle, which was carrying around 31,751kg (70,000 pounds) of active beehives, crashed on Friday in Whatcom County, Washington state – a rural area near the Canadian border, approximately 48km (30 miles) south of Vancouver, according to Al Jazeera.
“An estimated 250 million bees are now loose,” the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) announced via its official social media accounts. “Avoid the area due to the risk of bees escaping and swarming.”
Authorities cordoned off sections of the area and urged the public to maintain a safe distance of at least 200 yards (182 metres) while officials and bee specialists worked to recover, restore, and reset the hives.
Safely re-hiving bees
The aim, officials explained, is to safely re-hive the bees and help them relocate their queens – a process expected to take up to 48 hours.
While some beekeepers focus on producing honey, many lease their hives to farmers who depend on bees for crop pollination.
The sudden loss of millions of bees, even temporarily, could threaten crop productivity during the peak of the growing season.
“There is no general health risk to the public,” the WCSO added. “However, anyone with a bee sting allergy or concerns should consult the State Department of Health’s webpage on bees and wasps.”
Importance of honeybees
Honeybees are vital to global food production, helping to pollinate over 100 types of crops, including nuts, fruits, vegetables, citrus, and melons.
However, bee populations have been declining for years due to various factors such as insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change, and lack of food diversity.
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 May as “World Bee Day” to raise awareness about the crucial role of bees and the threats they face.
Beekeepers often transport bees across regions, as leaving hives in one place too long can exhaust local resources and negatively impact other pollinators, according to The Seattle Times.
A similar incident occurred in 2015 when 14 million bees escaped from a lorry on Interstate 5 north of Seattle and began stinging people, the newspaper reported.
