- Bees invade Sunyani Central Mosque
- Congregants, firefighters injured
- Emergency services respond quickly
An unexpected invasion of bees caused chaos at the Sunyani Central Mosque during Islamic prayers on Friday, October 18, 2024. The incident unfolded around 1:20 PM, sending hundreds of congregants fleeing the mosque in a panic.
As worshippers gathered for the usual Friday prayers, the swarm descended, prompting many to cover their faces in a bid to escape the onslaught. The swift actions of personnel from the Bono Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Ambulance Service helped to mitigate the situation.
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), while some congregants were rescued, the bees particularly targeted vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and women, who became trapped amidst the chaos.
Nearby shop owners and petty traders were also affected as the bees spread throughout the surrounding area along the Sunyani-Zongo one-way.
Assistant Divisional Officer Grade One (ADO1) Kwame Adomako Antwi, the Bono Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, confirmed the incident to GNA. He noted that the bees even attacked some of the fire personnel who responded to the emergency. Fortunately, the victims have since received medical attention.
ADO1 explained that the service initially received a distress call regarding a potential fire outbreak at the mosque, only to discover that the actual threat was the swarm of bees.
During a visit to the Sunyani Zongo, congregants expressed their astonishment at the invasion, stating that it was the first time such an event had occurred at the mosque.
