Around 900 snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped from a snake farm in southern China after devastating floods destroyed the site. At least one person has been bitten, authorities confirmed.
Floodwaters Breach Snake Farm in Hengzhou
The incident occurred in Hengzhou, part of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, following days of torrential rain that triggered widespread flooding. Floodwaters swept through the farm on July 6, allowing hundreds of snakes to escape into nearby communities, according to Global Times.
Wu Zhi, head of the Dengwei village committee, stated: "According to our preliminary estimate, around 800 to 900 snakes escaped after the farm was washed away by floodwaters. So far, one villager has been bitten by a snake and is receiving emergency treatment at a hospital."
Venomous and Non-Venomous Snakes Among Escapees
Wu added that not all escaped snakes pose a serious threat, noting that "a large proportion of them were non-venomous water snakes." However, local snake farms also breed venomous cobras alongside king rat snakes and water snakes, raising concerns among residents as floodwaters spread the animals across the area.
The flooding was caused by Typhoon Maysak, China's first typhoon of the year, which killed people in Guangxi and forced 130,000 people to evacuate. Guangxi issued its highest flood alert at midnight on Monday as water levels at 70 monitoring stations on 55 rivers rose above warning thresholds, The Independent reported. By Tuesday afternoon, 62 rivers across the country had risen above flood-warning levels, with the Qingshui River in Guangxi recording the heaviest flood in its monitoring history.
Residents Urged to Report Snake Sightings
Authorities have urged residents not to attempt to catch any snakes themselves unless they have professional training. Instead, anyone who spots a snake has been advised to report it to the local village committee so trained personnel can handle it safely.
In an unusual response, more than a dozen volunteers from nearby villages formed a civilian snake-catching team to search flooded neighborhoods for the escaped reptiles. The group has reportedly been going from house to house, removing snakes to reduce the risk of further bites.
Flooding Disrupts Communities
The flooding has left some communities cut off, with local media reporting that several people trapped by floodwaters were bitten by snakes but were unable to reach medical treatment immediately because roads had become impassable. China's emergency management authorities said rescue teams had been sent to deal with the situation after receiving reports of escaped snakes and snakebite incidents. Officials said further information would be released once assessments were completed.
Wu noted: "Most of the snakes have already been washed away by the floods. At present, only a small number remain on floating garbage and debris on stagnant floodwaters."
Government Response to Extreme Weather
Chinese President Xi Jinping said: "All local governments should tighten accountability for disaster prevention and relief, thoroughly check rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other regions prone to geological disasters, strengthen the early warning systems, ensure prevention and relief work and the safety of people's lives and property."
The flooding is the latest extreme weather event to hit parts of southern China this summer, with heavy rainfall causing widespread disruption. In neighboring Guangdong, the first flooding red alert of the season was issued for parts of the West River in Zhaoqing.
