A mountaineering accident has occurred in Pingtung, Taiwan, where three members of a hiking association were attacked by a swarm of bees while surveying an area in Kenting. Two men died, a piece of bad news that also underscores the risks of outdoor activities.

• The three had entered an ecological protection zone in Kenting National Park ahead of schedule to survey the area in preparation for a conservation event the following day, and were attacked by a swarm of bees along the way.
• One woman was rescued, but was left physically weakened by the bee stings; rescuers carried her down the mountain on their backs, taking more than 16 hours to get her to a hospital.
• The two men who had lost contact were located this morning after being flown by helicopter to the search site; one of them had fallen off a cliff, and both were clearly dead.
• Heavy rain at the scene, combined with steep terrain and dense forest, made the rescue extremely difficult, and the bodies could not be brought down the mountain immediately.

Outlook: The fire department will apply for a helicopter again tomorrow morning, but whether the bodies can be successfully airlifted will depend on the weather.