Extreme weather has strained emergency systems across several parts of China this week as flooding, landslides and storm-related rescues spread across multiple provinces. In Hengzhou, a county-level city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, floodwaters damaged a snake breeding farm on July 6 and sent hundreds of snakes into nearby villages already dealing with severe inundation.
Flooding in Hengzhou sent hundreds of snakes into nearby villages
Heavy rain tied to Typhoon Maysak hit Guangxi in early July, and state media reports said overtopping and breaches at the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs left parts of Hengzhou surrounded by floodwater. According to China Daily, a snake breeding farm in Dengwei village, Yunbiao township, was destroyed in the flooding, while local reports cited by multiple outlets put the number of escaped snakes at roughly 800 to 900.
Those reports said the escaped animals included venomous cobras as well as non-venomous species such as king snakes and water snakes. Global Times, citing village official Wu Zhi, reported that one rescue team of about 10 people was sent in with equipment including nets and stun devices to capture the reptiles and reduce the risk to residents.
The broader flooding emergency was already severe before the snake reports spread. The Associated Press reported that storms in southern China killed dozens of people across affected areas, while military rescue teams evacuated more than 10,000 students and teachers from schools in nearby Guigang, about 40 miles from Hengzhou.
The most immediate confirmed impact has been in villages around Yunbiao township, where floodwater cut off access and complicated medical response. China Daily reported that some villagers were bitten by snakes and had trouble getting treatment quickly because the floodwaters blocked roads and delayed transport.
A woman in Yunbiao died after a snakebite, according to a Beijing News report cited by the Associated Press, though AP said it could not independently verify local media accounts about the escaped snakes. Regional authorities did acknowledge the risk, stating Wednesday that snakes had appeared in some floodwaters after multiple villages in the Hengzhou area were submerged.
What remains unclear is the full count of snakebite cases and the total number of animals still loose. Authorities have not released a comprehensive public tally of all affected households, all confirmed bites, or how many snakes have been recovered, and reporting from the area has relied heavily on local media statements and village-level officials.
The immediate cause of the incident was flood damage after days of intense rainfall, with China Daily and Xinhua-cited reports linking the Hengzhou flooding to reservoir failures and rising water levels during Typhoon Maysak. Reuters reporting on the wider Guangxi flooding said cities across the region saw roads submerged, reservoirs swell and emergency flood controls raised as the storm system moved through southern China.
The snake danger was heightened by the presence of breeding facilities in the flooded area. Local reporting cited by CGTN, Global Times and other outlets said the damaged farm in Dengwei village housed large numbers of snakes, which were then swept out when the site was overtaken by water.
For residents, the practical response has centered on medical readiness and avoidance. China Daily and local media reports said Hengzhou People’s Hospital expanded antivenom supplies and opened a fast-track treatment channel for snakebite patients, while local authorities issued guidance warning residents not to approach snakes found in homes, stairwells or floodwater. As flood response continues in Guangxi, officials have said emergency crews remain focused on rescue work, public health support and reducing secondary risks in submerged communities.