Torrential rains bring devastating floods to a Chinese city – and a snake invasion

Snake Invasion Sweeps Through Flooded Chinese City

Torrential rains bring devastating floods – Residents of Hengzhou, a southern Chinese metropolis with approximately one million inhabitants, are facing an unusual crisis following severe flooding. What began as a natural disaster has transformed into something resembling a scene from a horror film, as hundreds of serpents have emerged from the rising waters. According to official state media reports, around 900 snakes—many carrying venom—are now roaming freely throughout the city after Typhoon Maysak devastated the region. The storm has claimed 39 lives so far.

Among the casualties is one woman who succumbed to a snakebite. Authorities suspect she was bitten by a cobra that may have fled one of the local reptile farms during the deluge. Several additional individuals have reportedly been bitten as well, though details remain limited. Dramatic footage captured by locals shows snakes navigating through submerged streets, their heads held high above the water like living periscopes.

More Than Just Snakes

The flooding has triggered an exodus of various animals beyond just reptiles. Guigang Zoo, a privately operated facility in the area, released an emergency statement on Wednesday evening alerting the public about escaped creatures. The notice mentioned two zebras, one humpback ox, three miniature horses, and two donkeys among those that broke free. Ostriches, emus, and raccoons were also included in the warning, with officials cautioning that frightened animals might become aggressive.

Zoo proprietor Yin Feifei shared with Hongxing News that his staff worked tirelessly to secure predator enclosures as floodwaters surged. Tragically, three lions perished in the rising waters. “We could not allow predators to escape during the flood and create an additional public safety risk,” he explained to reporters.

A City Transformed

Hengzhou occupies a position in the southeastern portion of Guangxi province, situated on a broad central plain encircled by mountain ranges and crisscrossed by more than 660 rivers. The city holds the distinction of being China’s jasmine capital, where the aromatic flower has been cultivated for half a millennium to produce fragrant tea. However, the region’s reputation extends far beyond horticulture.

In recent years, Hengzhou and the broader Guangxi area have emerged as a major center for snake breeding. Official records indicate over 100 different snake species inhabit the region, which shares a border with Vietnam and encompasses numerous ethnic minority communities. Snake meat holds cultural significance as a nourishing food source, and the practice of hunting snakes for consumption dates back generations.

By 2020, Guangxi housed nearly 20 million snakes across more than 14,000 breeding operations, according to Guangxi Daily, a government-affiliated publication. Today, the majority of these reptiles are raised for pharmaceutical and biomedical purposes. Cobras and common rat snakes represent the most frequently bred varieties in the area. While rat snakes pose no venom threat, cobra bites can prove fatal.

Capturing the Escapees

The once-thriving snake industry now faces an unexpected challenge. Mr. Zhu, who serves on a civilian snake-catching squad in Hengzhou, reported to Beijing News that his team of seven or eight members had been operating nonstop for two days. They managed to capture between 2,000 and 3,000 snakes—surpassing initial projections—primarily consisting of rat snakes.

Zhu noted that snakes typically seek shelter in hidden locations like house corners after flooding events. When villagers spotted the reptiles, they contacted the catching team, and the captured animals were subsequently transferred to experts for release into natural habitats. “We caught two or three thousand in two days – we’ve basically cleared them all out,” Zhu stated.

Additional complications arose from the flood’s impact on livestock. Shangyou News reported that over 16,000 pigs were swept away by the waters. Online videos depicted heavy equipment retrieving the animals from floodwaters in a manner reminiscent of arcade claw machines.

“We caught two or three thousand in two days – we’ve basically cleared them all out,” said Mr. Zhu to Beijing News.

“We could not allow predators to escape during the flood and create an additional public safety risk,” explained zoo owner Yin Feifei.

State media videos captured the chaotic scene of snake catching, showing a man in a bright pink raincoat diving toward a swimming serpent while bystanders prepared nets. Screams and laughter echoed as people attempted to secure the reptiles. Despite the excitement, authorities emphasized that snakebites can prove deadly. Villagers told Beijing News they struggled to locate medical assistance for the woman who was bitten, as flooding had severed communication routes before help could arrive.