250 million honey bees escape over -fallen truck in the US

An estimated 250 million bees escaped from a fallen truck in the US state of Washington on Friday, causing warnings from the authorities to the public to prevent the swarm of stinging insects.

Emergency officials were helped by various masters’ keepers after the truck, which had pulled around 70,000 lb (31,750 kg) active honey beehives, turned on a road near the Canadian border.

“The goal is to save as many bees as possible,” said Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) shortly after the incident.

The authorities said that the crash site would remain closed “until the rescue is complete”.

“250 million bees are now loose,” wrote Whatcom County Sheriff. “Avoid the area because of the potential of bees escaping and swarming”.

Bee-keepers collaborated with the police “to help to reset the frameworks Bijenkens”, using containers to house honey bees.

“The plan is to let the bees hang again and find their queen bees,” WCSO said, adding: “That should take place within 24-48 hours.”

In an update that was later placed on social media on Friday, the police thanked “the beautiful community of beekeepers” and said that “more than two dozen” had come to help with the rescue efforts.

“By the morning most bees should have returned to their beehives,” WCSO wrote on Facebook.

Images that were shared by the police showed huge numbers of bees that swarm around the truck fell over.

While some bee keepers only want to produce honey, many others rent out their hives to farmers who need the insects to pollinate their crops.