Deinze – A reserve football match between RSCA Futures and Beerschot in Deinze was abruptly halted on Friday evening, September 12, 2025, when a swarm of Asian hornets attacked visiting supporters, injuring 15 fans. Firefighters, assisted by Dominique Soete, removed the nest, raising alarms about the increasing presence of hornets in Belgium, reports 24brussels.
The disturbance arose from a concealed nest located in an abandoned shed adjacent to a demolished stand. Emergency services treated ten individuals on-site, while five others were taken to the hospital for further care. In response to the incident, several Beerschot supporters were relocated to a safer section of the stadium.
“We did this by spraying the nest with an insecticide spray,”
Soete remarked.
“The hornets die in the nest within 30 seconds. We then slid a box over the nest and were able to remove it. It all went smoothly.”
What role are Asian hornets playing in Belgium’s rising emergency calls?
Over the weekend, firefighters, with support from Soete of Vespawatch and researchers from Ghent University, successfully eradicated the nest, which was confirmed to be a primary nest containing only workers and males. The area was deemed safe upon the completion of the removal. Officials noted that the swift action prevented a broader risk to the stadium and nearby vicinity.
“Because it was a primary nest, we do not need to set traps nearby to catch the queens.”
Soete elaborated that in some municipalities, reports of hornet-related incidents account for nearly half of all emergency calls received. While nest removal falls within the responsibilities of the fire service, the increasing volume of cases has placed significant strain on many units.
The lack of training and knowledge regarding safe removal methods among some teams has raised concerns. Soete warned that if this issue remains unaddressed through appropriate training programs, fire services may soon find themselves overwhelmed as the number of nests continues to grow.
Firefighters typically avoid insecticides due to environmental and health concerns. Some organizations utilize vacuum systems to safely extract hornets and nests, which can be effective under certain circumstances.
The surge in hornet nest removals correlates with the spread of the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), first identified in Belgium in 2016. Since then, sightings have escalated annually, with official monitoring indicating significant colony expansions in Flanders and Wallonia by 2020.
By 2023, several provinces reported unprecedented numbers of nests, prompting regional governments to initiate action plans and awareness campaigns. Authorities caution that this trend is likely to persist into 2024 and beyond, further straining fire services responsible for nest removals.
