Hundreds of snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped from a snake farm in Hengzhou, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, after severe flooding damaged the facility, prompting emergency response efforts and safety warnings for residents.
Local authorities estimated that between 800 and 900 snakes escaped after floodwaters swept through the farm in Dengwei village, an area badly affected by heavy rainfall triggered by Typhoon Maysak.
Officials said rescue teams have been deployed to contain the situation and assist affected communities, while residents have been urged to avoid attempting to capture the reptiles themselves.
According to Wu Zhi, head of the Dengwei Village Committee, the incident occurred on the morning of July 6.
“Our preliminary estimate is that 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,” Wu said.
He explained that although some venomous snakes escaped, many of the reptiles were non-venomous water snakes.
Local residents said floodwaters from breaches at the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs inundated several low-lying communities, allowing snakes from smaller farms to spread into surrounding areas. Some stranded villagers were reportedly bitten by snakes but were initially unable to access medical care because flooding had cut off their communities.
A snake farmer identified as Lei said farms located on higher ground were largely unaffected. He added that while many snakes from low-lying farms likely escaped, those submerged for prolonged periods were unlikely to survive.
The Hengzhou Emergency Management Bureau confirmed it had received reports of the escaped snakes and snakebite incidents and said emergency personnel had been dispatched to the affected areas. Authorities said further information would be released through official channels.
In response to the incident, volunteers from neighbouring communities formed a civilian snake-catching team to help remove the reptiles from flooded neighbourhoods. According to Wu, the team has been conducting house-to-house searches and has captured mostly non-venomous water snakes.
He noted that many of the escaped snakes had already been carried away by floodwaters, with only a small number remaining on floating debris and stagnant water.
Authorities have advised residents not to attempt to catch snakes without proper training and to immediately report any sightings to the village committee so trained personnel can respond safely.