Heatwave Raises Concerns for Honeybee Survival Amidst Extreme Conditions

As the heatwave continues, both animals and plants are suffering. Beekeeping farms are particularly concerned about the potential mass mortality of bees, while flower farms fear their plants may wither. Reporter Kwon Min-kyu reports from the scene.

At a beekeeping farm in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, where a heatwave warning is in effect, thousands of honeybees are seen clinging to the entrances of over 80 beehives. The extreme heat has turned the inside of the hives into a steam bath, forcing bees to evacuate outside. Despite the installation of shading screens and hourly water sprays, the cooling measures are insufficient. A honeycomb that typically hosts around 5,000 bees now has only about 1,500, as the heat drives them toward the entrances or away from the hives.