Nearly 900 cobras escape after China flood destroys snake farm

Nearly 900 snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped from a breeding farm in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after floodwaters destroyed the facility during torrential rains, prompting authorities to deploy rescue teams and warn residents.

The flooding, triggered by heavy rains linked to Typhoon Maysak, inundated Dengwei village in Hengzhou, where the snake farm was located.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media appeared to show snakes swimming through floodwaters, sparking fears among residents in nearby villages.

The flooding also stranded pigs and ostriches, adding to the chaos caused by the disaster.

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According to the Global Times, an official from the Hengzhou Emergency Management Bureau said authorities were aware of reports that the snake farm had been destroyed and that villagers had suffered snake bites. Rescue teams were dispatched to capture the escaped reptiles and respond to emergencies.

The death toll from the storm has risen to at least 22, with hundreds more injured and thousands forced to flee their homes.

AFP reported that about 13,000 people had been evacuated, nearly 13,000 acres of farmland damaged, 24 people remained missing, about 4,800 houses were damaged in Hubei Province, and 40 rivers and waterways overflowed in Guangxi.

Videos shared online showed powerful winds battering the cities of Ezhou and Huanggang.

One clip, reportedly filmed from inside a restaurant, captured outdoor tables and chairs being hurled through the air as electrical sparks flew overhead and terrified diners screamed.

The BBC reported that relentless rain began falling on Sunday in Renhe village in Guangxi.

While residents were accustomed to seasonal downpours, the rainfall intensified without stopping.

By the early hours of Monday, floodwaters had reached knee height before completely submerging the ground floors of homes by dawn.