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Boy, 6, Dies After Hornet Attack in Bekasi; Nest Destroyed

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 17, 2026•2 min read

A 6-year-old boy in Bekasi Regency, West Java, died after being stung by a swarm of Vespa hornets while passing a tree where the nest was attached in Kampung Piket, Sukatenang Village, Sukawangi. His 7-year-old brother survived and is under medical care. Firefighters later destroyed the large nest by burning it.

Key Facts

A 6-year-old boy died after being stung by a swarm of Vespa hornets in Kampung Piket, Sukatenang Village, Sukawangi District, Bekasi Regency, West Java.
The victim and his 7-year-old brother — siblings — were stung by the hornets while passing near a Vespa nest attached to a tree.
The 7-year-old brother survived and remains under medical care for his sting wounds.
Bekasi Regency fire department's rescue team destroyed the large hornet nest by burning it, following reports from residents.
Vespa hornets can sting repeatedly and release pheromones that trigger mass colony attacks on the same target.
Firefighters urged residents to report any hornet nests near settlements immediately so they can be handled before claiming more lives.

Two Siblings Attacked While Passing By

BEKASI — Tragedy struck Kampung Piket, Sukatenang Village, Sukawangi District, Bekasi Regency, West Java. A 6-year-old boy died after being stung by a swarm of Vespa hornets nesting in a tree.

The victim was with his 7-year-old brother, passing near a tree where the Vespa nest was attached. Unaware, they walked beneath it and were immediately attacked by the swarm.

The 6-year-old died from the attack. His 7-year-old brother survived and remains under medical care for sting wounds.

Firefighters Burn the Large Nest

The Bekasi Regency fire department's rescue team followed up residents' reports by destroying the nest. It was burned because it was large and attached to a tree, requiring full caution.

"The hornet nest was in Kampung Piket, Sukatenang Village, Sukawangi District. A day earlier there were two victims, two siblings, stung by those hornets. So we finally followed up the report," said Bekasi Regency firefighter rescue team member Adhi Nugroho, as reported by Nusantara TV in NTV Newsflash.

"We dispatched the rescue team and carried out the burning," he added. Firefighters urged residents to report similar findings near settlements so they can be handled promptly and not claim more lives.

The Danger of Vespa Hornet Stings

Vespa hornets, including Vespa affinis, are no ordinary threat. Unlike honeybees, they can sting repeatedly. On the first sting, a hornet releases pheromones that signal the colony to attack the same target en masse.

Fatal Vespa attacks are not new in Bekasi Regency. Local firefighters have repeatedly evacuated hornet nests in residential areas. Many stings can be life-threatening, especially for children.

Residents who find hornet nests near their homes are advised not to handle them alone. Destroying a nest requires protective equipment and is usually done by firefighters at night to reduce sting risk.