04.05.2026 12:03
In Iğdır, a flock of sheep being taken to the highland pasture was attacked by bees. While fleeing as a herd, one thousand sheep died after tumbling one after another down a sloping area next to an irrigation canal. The number, initially reported as 400 in the first hours of the incident, turned out to be one thousand. The flock owner and four shepherds were also hospitalized due to bee stings.
A sheep herd taken to a plateau in Iğdır experienced a major disaster after a bee attack. Panicked animals rolled down a sloping area next to an irrigation canal during the escape, resulting in the death of approximately one thousand sheep.
The incident occurred between the villages of Hakmehmet and Ağaver. The herd owner, İsmail Naral, set out with 4 shepherds to take approximately 4,000 sheep to the plateau in Tuzluca. As the herd was advancing, bees from 200 hives in the area suddenly attacked.
THE HERD PANICKED, DISASTER WAS INEVITABLE
Panicked by the bee attack, the sheep began to flee as a herd. The out-of-control animals fell one after another into the sloping area next to the irrigation canal. As a result of the stampede, approximately one thousand sheep died.
HERD OWNER AND SHEPHERDS HOSPITALIZED
During the incident, the herd owner İsmail Naral and 4 shepherds, who were stung by bees, were also taken to the hospital.
Upon notification, gendarmerie, AFAD, and Iğdır Municipality fire brigade teams were dispatched to the area. While teams conducted inspections at the scene, it was reported that the dead animals remained in the field.
“OUR LOSS IS VERY GREAT”
Describing what happened, İsmail Naral said, “We were taking 4,000 sheep to the plateau. When the bees attacked, the herd panicked and fell into the gap next to the canal. Approximately one thousand sheep died. Our loss is very great.”
Authorities are expected to begin damage assessment work in the area.