TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An eight-member hiking team on New Taipei’s Shiding Hiking Trail issued a distress call at 4 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 27), asking for assistance after encountering a swarm of Asian giant hornets.

Three people in the hiking group were stung. Each individual remained conscious and slowly walked down the mountain, per CNA.

The hiking group had set off at 9 a.m., taking the hiking trail above a Taiwan Water Corporation office building. When the group was completing their hike late in the afternoon, they unexpectedly encountered a swarm of hornets, leading them to disperse and flee the scene quickly.

A 60-year-old man, surnamed Zhuang (莊), was stung more than 10 times. A 71-year-old man, surnamed Chen (陳), was stung two times, and a 56-year-old woman, surnamed Lin (林), was stung once.

The three had chest tightness, swelling from bites, and other discomfort. An emergency call for assistance was also made in case their condition deteriorated.

The New Taipei City Fire Department Fourth Brigade dispatched 15 vehicles and 32 firefighters to the scene. Firefighters accompanied the hikers to the trailhead and sent them to nearby Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital for treatment.

Commander of the Fourth Brigade Chen Chih-wei (陳志瑋) said that autumn is the peak season for hornet activity. He warned that if the public encounters hornet swarms while hiking, they may frighten or otherwise trigger hornets to go into attack mode by quickly speeding up or using objects to swat at them or drive them away.

Chen recommended people remain calm and avoid panicking when encountering hornets. He added that slow movements are advised to distance oneself from a swarm of hornets.