Three members of a hiking group were attacked by a swarm of hornets while surveying the Nanrenshan Ecological Protection Area in Kenting. One woman was rescued but seriously injured, while two other men remain unaccounted for, in a worrying situation.

• The three are members of a mountaineering association who were conducting an advance survey for an ecological conservation event. On the 12th they entered the protection area via the Lanren Creek in Manzhou Township, and were swarmed by a large number of hornets along the way.

• The rescued woman, surnamed Zhang, was carried down the mountain in relays by rescuers working through the night in the rain. She was stung in multiple places on her face, back and limbs, suffered impaired kidney function and may need dialysis. She has been transferred to another hospital for treatment.

• The other two men are still missing. Police, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, the coast guard and mountain rescue personnel re-entered the area at dawn to resume the search, and, depending on the weather, applied for helicopter support for evacuation.

• Nanrenshan is one of the few remaining low-altitude primary forests in Taiwan. It is ecologically rich, and entry requires prior application to the Kenting National Park Headquarters.

Outlook: The search is now focused on finding the two missing men, and the subsequent rescue effort and the injured woman's condition will depend on the weather and her medical situation.