Approximately 900 snakes, including cobras, have escaped from a snake farm in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after the facility was damaged by flooding caused by a typhoon. Authorities and local residents are currently engaged in emergency capture operations.

According to reports from China Central Television (CCTV) and other sources on July 8, a snake farm in Hengzhou, Guangxi, was flooded during heavy rainfall on July 6, allowing 800 to 900 snakes to escape into the surrounding area.

A local resident told the Hongxing News, "The snake farm was damaged by the flood, and the snakes escaped," adding, "So far, one resident has been bitten by a snake and is receiving treatment at a hospital."

The escaped snakes are reported to include cobras, king rat snakes, and water snakes.

The flooding was triggered by persistent heavy rain across the Guangxi region due to the influence of a typhoon.

In Hengzhou, a portion of a reservoir embankment was washed away, causing low-lying areas to flood. It is reported that during this process, snakes from a small-scale farm were dispersed into the vicinity.

Local residents stated that some people isolated in the flooded areas were bitten by snakes but were unable to reach a hospital in time.

As the situation worsened, villagers voluntarily formed capture teams to hunt for the snakes.

Hengzhou authorities have also deployed rescue personnel to the scene to assist with resident evacuations and snake capture operations, while urging residents to refrain from going outside and to report any snake sightings immediately.

Guangxi is one of the largest snake-breeding regions in China.

The region has historically raised snakes on a large scale for use in traditional medicine and the leather industry. Chinese media reported that at its peak, the scale of snake breeding in Guangxi reached approximately 20 million, accounting for about 70 percent of the national total.

(Photo courtesy of Hengzhou City, Yonhap News)