Hornets kill 2 hikers, leave 1 with severe kidney damage in Pingtung

Aug 15, 2026

A deadly hornet attack in Taiwan's Kenting National Park killed two experienced hikers and left a third fighting kidney failure — grim news for hikers heading into remote southern trails.

  • Two men, aged 69 and 64, died after hornets swarmed them in Chufeng Valley; both went into cardiac arrest.
  • A 49-year-old woman survived but has severe kidney damage from the venom and now needs dialysis.
  • The trio were seasoned hikers with search-and-rescue training, scouting the site for a Sunday nature event.
  • Heavy rain and rough terrain slowed the rescue, which took until early Saturday to bring the survivor out.

Outlook: Expect warnings about hornet activity on remote Pingtung trails, especially with an ecological event still on the calendar for the area.

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