Two Presumed Dead After Hornet Attack During Kenting Park Exploration; One Rescued

A dangerous encounter with Asian giant hornets in an undeveloped mountainous area of Kenting National Park has left two men presumed dead and one woman injured. The group of three, identified as Mr. Chang (69), Mr. Yan (64), and Ms. Chang (49), had gone exploring the Bufenggu route on August 12 and subsequently went missing.

After receiving a report on the evening of August 13, a search and rescue operation involving 22 personnel from the Pingtung County Fire Department and the Kaohsiung branch of the Mountain Rescue Association was launched. During the rescue, Ms. Chang managed to call for help on August 14, reporting that her two male companions had been attacked by hornets and showed no signs of life. The terrain was described as rugged and steep, with dense forest, and the area experienced severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, making the mountain paths extremely slippery.

Rescue personnel finally reached Ms. Chang, who was conscious but weak and suffering from hornet stings. She was administered adrenaline by paramedics. Due to the extreme difficulty of transporting her on foot, rescuers worked through the night, finally carrying her out of the mountain area at 4:12 AM on August 15. She was then taken to Hengchun Tourism Hospital. Search efforts for the two missing men resumed early on August 15, with police, firefighters, coast guard, and mountain rescue teams converging on the accident site. The National Airborne Service Corps has been requested to provide helicopter support for aerial extraction if weather conditions permit.

The incident highlights the dangers of exploring remote and unmanaged natural areas, especially when encountering aggressive wildlife like Asian giant hornets. The challenging rescue operation underscores the risks faced by emergency responders in such environments.

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Two male companions were attacked by hornets and showed no signs of life.