Subang, West Java. A 55-year-old man died after being attacked by a swarm of Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia), locally known as tawon vespa, while attempting to remove their nest from a resident’s roof in Subang, West Java, without protective equipment or professional assistance.

The incident occurred in Babakan Hamlet, Karang Mulya village, Legon Kulon district, on Thursday. The victim, identified as Warno, climbed onto the roof of a neighbor’s house and tried to place the hornet nest into a sack, triggering a violent attack by hundreds of hornets.

Residents had previously reported the presence of the hornet nest to the local disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) and local fire services, but before officers arrived, Warno decided to handle the removal on his own.

The hornets swarmed the victim, stinging him repeatedly. Witnesses said Warno managed to climb down from the roof but collapsed shortly afterward. Bystanders were unable to assist immediately due to fears of being stung.

He was taken to Pamanukan Medical Center for treatment but was pronounced dead later that day. His body was returned to the family home on Friday morning for burial at the Karang Mulya village cemetery.

Karang Mulya village head Rosid Saeful Alam confirmed the incident and urged residents not to attempt to handle dangerous animals like tawon vespa without expertise and safety gear.

“The victim decided to evacuate the nest himself without protective equipment, even though the presence of the nest had already been reported to the authorities,” Rosid said.

Following the incident, BPBD and fire service officers arrived at the scene and destroyed the hornet nest using fuel sprays to eliminate the remaining hornets and their larvae.

The Vespa mandarinia, or Asian giant hornet, is the world’s largest hornet species and is known for its potent venom and aggressive defense of its nests. Multiple stings can cause severe allergic reactions, organ failure, and, in some cases, death, particularly if immediate medical treatment is not received. The species has been responsible for dozens of fatalities in Asia each year.

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