Tragic Wasp Attack: Chinese Siblings Die After Being Stung 1,000+ Times By Wasps

In a tragic incident in Yunnan province, China, a brother and sister lost their lives after being stung hundreds of times by wasps. Local authorities have charged a beekeeper with negligent homicide in connection with the deaths.

According to the South China Morning Post, the tragedy occurred on June 28 in Muding County, when a seven-year-old boy and his two-year-old sister were playing near pine woods under their grandmother's supervision. The grandmother was also stung multiple times while attempting to rescue the children.

The younger sibling, the two-year-old girl, suffered over 700 stings and died at the scene. Her seven-year-old brother, stung more than 300 times, was hospitalized but succumbed the following day. Their father told SCMP that the children were stung all over their bodies, with no part spared.

Authorities later identified the insects as yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), which were being farmed by a local resident, surnamed Li, for their chrysalises, considered a delicacy in the region. Following the attack, Li compensated the family with 40,000 yuan.

Investigations revealed that Li had been raising the hornets for two years without notifying the forestry department, violating local regulations. He was briefly detained, later released on bail, and has since exterminated all the hornets in his possession.

In response to the incident, authorities have banned the farming of yellow-legged hornets and are inspecting beekeeping operations throughout the region to prevent similar tragedies in the future.