Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- At least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets -- which may include the world 's largest hornet species Vespa mandarinia -- in China 's central Shaanxi province in the last three months , according to the city government of Ankang , the apparent epicenter of a recent spate of fatalities and injuries . A total of 583 people in the area have been stung by hornets since July 1 , say city officials . Seventy victims are still recovering in hospitals . Chen Changlin was hospitalized after being attacked by hornets , while harvesting rice last week . `` I ran and shouted for help , but the hornets chased me about 200 meters , and stung me for more than 3 minutes , '' he recounted to the state-run China Youth Daily . Chen said hornets had first swarmed a woman and child working nearby , who then ran towards him . Both later died from the hornets ' toxins . `` The more you run , the more they want to chase you , '' said another victim , whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom . When he was admitted to the hospital , his urine was the color of soy sauce , according to local reports . Earlier this month , 30 people -- including 23 primary school children aged between six and eight years -- were injured in a hornet attack in Guangxi province , south of Shaanxi . Their teacher , Li Zhiqiang , told his students to hide under tables as he tried to drive away the insects before he lost consciousness . The school 's headmaster told local media that most of the injured suffered stings to their heads , necks , hands and feet . Nearly 60 students and teachers were injured in a separate incident in the province at the start of the month , according to state media . Experts say a number of reasons may have contributed to the apparent increase in hornet activity , including the region 's recent hot , dry weather , land development and hornet sensitivity to the smell of people . The Asian killer hornet , which is suspected in these incidents , are formidable , carnivorous killers , according to the non-profit Honeybee Conservancy . The species feed their young with the larvae of other insects and use their talons and mandibles to sever the limbs and heads of their prey . The hornet 's venom sting is a neurotoxin so powerful that it dissolves human tissue , according to the Guinness Book of World Records . This week 's latest incidents spurred the Ankang city government to hold an emergency video call addressing local concerns . Vice Mayor Lu Qi said he would increase investment in regional hornet control . Mayor Xu Qifang added the city would establish a 24-hour emergency hornet response team . Journalist Ramy Inocencio wrote in Hong Kong and Ke Feng contributed to this article from Beijing .
More than 580 people have been stung to death by hornets in southern Shaanxi . More than 580 people have been stung in China 's southern China province . The Vespa killer hornet , Asian mandarinia , is world 's largest hornet and may be involved . Regional hot , dry weather and smell of people may be factors in increased hornet activity .