Beijing:Hundreds of snakes, including , escaped from flooded breeding farms in southern China after relentless rain triggered by Tropical Storm Maysak submerged large parts of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The escape prompted authorities to issue public warnings, urging residents to stay away from floodwaters and remain alert as the reptiles spread into nearby communities.The incident happened in Hengzhou, where floodwaters inundated a commercial snake farm after days of heavy rain. Local reports said the escaped reptiles included cobras, king ratsnakes and water snakes. Officials say that flooding drives snakes from their homes and they often take refuge in homes, debris and other dry areas, increasing the chances of encounters with humans.
The incident gained widespread attention after state media broadcast dramatic footage of residents using dip nets to catch snakes from floodwaters. One video showed a cobra lifting its head over a stream of muddy water, highlighting the perils facing people trying to navigate flooded neighborhoods. The clips quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with many voicing concern over the increasing danger from both the floods and the escaped reptiles.
Since the floods started, a few victims of snake bite have been treated in hospitals in the area. A villager said he was bitten by a cobra while clearing debris on the ground floor of his home after floodwaters receded, local media reported. Further reports have since said another victim of a snakebite has died, highlighting the added danger of the disaster.
39 dead in China floodsThe snake escape comes as southern China continues to battle one of its worst bouts of flooding in recent months. Tropical Storm Maysak brought very heavy rainfall in Guangxi, with some areas receiving more than 90 centimetres of rain. The torrential rains caused reservoirs to overflow and break up, flooding nearby towns and villages, and leaving many communities inundated for days.
At least 39 people have died in Guangxi, including 26 deaths linked to a dam breach in the city of Nanning, authorities said. More than 130,000 residents have fled the affected areas, with thousands of emergency workers, rescue boats and drones deployed to search for stranded people and deliver relief supplies. Rescue teams are still at work despite strong currents, submerged roads and floating debris.
The bad weather has also affected other parts of China. Landslides, thunderstorms and tornadoes from the same weather system also killed more people in central provinces, state media said, adding to the nationwide death toll from the extreme conditions.
As floodwaters recede slowly in some areas, authorities have begun to shift some of their attention to recovery efforts. Crews are cleaning mud and debris, disinfecting flood-affected neighborhoods, fixing damaged roads and bringing electricity back to tens of thousands of homes.