Omani villagers counter wasp raids

Massive swarms of wasps have raided an Omani village, prompting residents to mobilise their forces and launch a counter offensive, a local daily said Friday.

Successive waves of red wasps deployed in surrounding trees and mountains launched several attacks on residents, farms, palm trees and honey-producing beehives in Hailin village in Batina province on the Gulf of Oman.

Oman Daily said it sent a team to the village, where many of its residents have been stung by the wasps and parts of farms and bee hives have been damaged.

“Red wasps are very dangerous and are quite big….they usually swarm in this area during this period the year,” it quoted villager Zahir Al Jahouri as saying.

“We had lived in fear for several days before we decided to attack and destroy them…we formed groups to surround the trees and mountains and burn their concentrations…we have also announced cash rewards for children to encourage them to participate in this campaign…thank God the Almighty, we have made big success and destroyed many of their bases.”

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