Twenty-six students were injured, with at least one hospitalised, after a swarm of Africanised bees attacked students during lunch break at Port Mourant Secondary School in Region Six on Monday, raising fresh concerns over the school's playfield safety.

According to accounts from students and parents, a ball may have disturbed vegetation in an unoccupied lot next to the school's playfield, where a bee nest was located, triggering the attack. The presence of the nest, reportedly known to residents in the area, has drawn criticism from parents who say it should have been identified and removed before the incident occurred.

Gouri Mahadeo, one of the students involved, recalled being on the grandstand when the incident occurred.

"I was in the ballfield sitting down on the grandstand, and they play ball and the ball knock the bee, and the bee bite nuff of we, 26," Mahadeo said.

Her mother, Sheliza Ghanie, said she was contacted shortly after the incident and made her way to the hospital.

"Them was playing, and one little boy got a bite and rushed to all of them and the bee attacked them. And the teacher rushed him to the hospital. And them call and that's how I come here," Ghanie said.

Another parent, Deoraj Arjune, said three of his children attend the school, but only his 13-year-old daughter, Devina, was stung.

"I received a phone call, saying if I am Devina father. I said yes. They said, 'you need to come to the hospital that the bee bite up Devina.' Them was playing at the playground and bee bite her up. I came, she get two bite," he said.

Arjune expressed concern about the reported presence of a large bee nest near the playfield. "Them should really look into the bee thing. Remember they play on the playground and the nest is there right there, and they say it's a big nest, so probably somebody had to see the nest," he said.

The incident is the latest to raise questions about environmental hazards on or near school compounds in rural areas, where undeveloped lots often border active playfields.

Following the incident, Port Mourant Secondary School issued a notice to parents and guardians advising that classes would continue as normal on Thursday. The school said the bee threat had been addressed but, as a precautionary measure, the playfield would remain off-limits throughout the week while additional safety measures are put in place.

Parents and students were also urged to stay away from the playfield and follow all safety instructions issued by the school.