Flood-Driven Snake Escape Turns Hengzhou Into a Slithering Hazard Zone

On 7 July 2026, Typhoon Maysak slammed the Guang-xi Zhuang Autonomous Region, flooding the city of Hengzhou (?1 million residents). Rising waters breached dozens of snake-breeding farms, releasing an estimated 800 to 900 snakes—many venomous cobras and kraits—into streets, homes and fields. State media reported 39 flood-related deaths, including one woman who died after a presumed cobra bite. The same floods swept away more than 16,000 pigs and forced the rescue of escaped zoo animals such as zebras, miniature horses and two lions that drowned.

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Guang-xi has long been China’s “jasmine capital” and a national hub for snake breeding. By 2020 the region housed almost 20 million snakes across 14,000 breeding farms, supplying meat, traditional medicine and biomedical products. The concentration of venomous species, especially cobras and common rat snakes, turned the flood’s damage into a public-health emergency.

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• ? 900 snakes reported loose (CNN) – 800 snakes cited by Hongxing report.

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• 2 000-3 000 snakes captured by a civilian team in two days (Beijing News).

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• At least 39 people killed by flooding overall; 1 snake-bite fatality confirmed, several others bitten.

The Guardian

• > 16 000 pigs rescued from floodwaters (CNN).

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• 50 000 people evacuated from the broader Guang-xi flood zone (The Guardian).

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The Hengzhou emergency management bureau acknowledged damage to snake farms and activated a fast-track treatment channel at Hengzhou People’s Hospital, the designated snake-bite centre. Xinhua reported that antivenom stocks were replenished and that “most snakes prefer cool, damp environments and generally do not attack humans unprovoked.” Guidance issued on 7 July advised residents to avoid nighttime outdoor activity, keep grass and ponds clear, use pungent-odor repellents, and employ sticks to disturb undergrowth. President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” rescue efforts across the affected provinces.

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Local residents posted videos of snakes swimming through streets and of volunteers wielding dip nets. A man in a bright pink raincoat was filmed diving after a snake, while others shouted and laughed while attempting captures. Villagers recounted that flood-damaged roads delayed medical help for the woman who later died from a bite. Zoo owner Yin Feifei described staff risking their lives to lock predator cages as waters rose, noting three lions drowned.

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No organized opposition to the emergency response was reported. However, some villagers expressed frustration that “we sought help but it was too late,” highlighting gaps in rapid medical access during the flood.

The Guardian

• Snake count: CNN cites ? 900 escaped; Hongxing report mentions > 800.

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• Fatalities: The Guardian notes a snake-bite death confirmed by a local hospital, while Xinhua’s hospital declined comment, leaving the exact number of snake-bite fatalities uncertain.

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

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• “We caught two or three thousand in two days – we’ve basically cleared them all out,” — Zhu, civilian snake-catching team member (Beijing News)

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• “Hundreds of snakes escaped all at once. I’ve seen five or six,” — snakebite victim, Beijing News

The Guardian

• “We sought help but it was too late,” — villager, state media

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• “More than 800 snakes escaped when a snake farm flooded on Monday, an official told local news outlet Hongxing.” — Hongxing report

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State authorities plan to continue snake-catching operations until floodwaters recede and to maintain heightened antivenom supplies, but no specific timeline for the completion of the effort was provided.

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