Torrential rains in southern China have triggered a dual disaster, as a breached reservoir flooded a commercial snake farm, releasing up to 900 snakes—including venomous cobras—into submerged villages.
Emergency rescue teams in southern China are battling a uniquely hazardous crisis after severe flooding destroyed a commercial snake farm, releasing hundreds of snakes into waterlogged villages where stranded residents are reportedly falling victim to bites.
Days of relentless downpours in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region caused critical breaches at the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs, sending torrents of water into low-lying communities downstream.
However, the rising waters brought a secondary peril. On July 6, floodwaters completely overwhelmed a snake breeding facility in Dengxu Village, located in the town of Yunbiao, Hengzhou City.
According to local official Wu Zhi, an estimated 800 to 900 snakes escaped into the floodwaters after the facility's walls collapsed.
Local snake farmers indicate that the facility primarily bred three species: king ratsnakes, Oriental ratsnakes, and highly venomous monocled cobras.
Cut Off and Bitten
The situation on the ground has been severely worsened by a breakdown in communications and logistics. With floodwaters cutting off roads and knocked-out cell towers leaving many areas without signal, stranded villagers have found themselves trapped in close quarters with the displaced reptiles."The main issue is that relief supplies cannot get in—the water is too high and the rain is too heavy ... people can only rely on self-rescue."
The disaster in Guangxi highlights what Chinese meteorologists have warned is an increasingly "complex" and volatile year for natural disasters across the country.
Forecasters had previously cautioned that the nation faces an overlapping matrix of environmental threats this season. The combination of shifting jet streams and record ocean temperatures has resulted in a destructive mix of floods, landslides, and dam failures.
The Hengzhou City Emergency Management Bureau stated that specialised rescue personnel have been dispatched to the front lines to manage both the evacuations and the wildlife threat, though operations continue to be hampered by the ongoing severe weather.