Beware of Aggressive 'Malbeol' Wasps... Stings Can Cause Death Within an Hour

A firefighter from the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters is removing a beehive found in a tree in a residential area.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters urged residents on the 22nd to be cautious of hornet and other bee sting accidents.

The Fire Headquarters announced that the number of bee sting accidents and hive removal dispatches has surged recently in the province, reaching 2,359 cases from the 1st to the 20th of this month.

They explained that this accounts for more than 60% of the 3,750 dispatches made across the province this year for hive removal.

The National Fire Agency issued a "Bee Sting Accident Advisory" on the 11th due to increased hornet activity and frequent bee sting accidents.

The bee sting accident forecast is based on bee sting accident statistics from the past three years; an advisory is issued when the risk index exceeds 50, and a warning is issued when it exceeds 80.

On the 11th, the risk index was recorded at 60.81, leading to the issuance of the bee sting accident advisory.

A Fire Headquarters official requested the public to prevent bee sting accidents by ▲ refraining from using strongly scented cosmetics ▲ avoiding dark colors such as black and wearing bright clothing ▲ covering the head and quickly moving more than 20 meters away when coming into contact with a hive ▲ and immediately calling 119 if dizziness or other symptoms occur after being stung.

Lim Min-gyu, Director of the Protection and Rescue Division, said, "If an allergic reaction causes anaphylactic shock after a bee sting, death can occur within an hour," and emphasized, "Especially during outdoor activities such as hiking, it is essential to strictly follow safety rules to prevent accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.