The heavy floods in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have caused devastating fear amongst the residents. Due to the overflow, 900 snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped from a farm in Hengzhou. The harrowing incident has led to the reported snakebites, as reported by local media outlets. Here’s a closer look at the agonising ordeal of residents in South China due to floods. South China has been affected by Typhoon Maysak, leading to heavy rainfall and emergencies in various reservoirs, per Global Times. A snake farm in Hengzhou was reportedly destroyed by the floods, and internet users shared the information online with clips and screenshots citing various venomous reptiles escaped from the facility. While one netizen warned and advised taking precautions, another user shared a comment that a villager was injured. Moreover, the villagers were short of supplies for medical care. “It [the escape] happened on the morning of July 6. According to our preliminary estimate, around 800 to 900 snakes escaped after the farm was washed away by floodwaters. So far, one villager has been bitten by a snake and is receiving emergency treatment at a hospital,” Wu Zhi, head of the Dengwei village committee in Yunbiao township in Hengzhou, said to Red Star News on Tuesday. He further affirmed that not all snakes are venomous; some are non-venomous water snakes. The local farms raise three types of snakes: cobras, king rats, and water snakes. Another resident named Shen proclaimed that there are many snake farms in the locality, both on hillsides and in low-lying areas, during an interview with CCTV. com. He continued by revealing that various residents have been bitten by the snakes and remain stranded due to no medical care. The farms located in low-lying areas took a hit due to problems that occurred in Liulan Reservoir and Yunbiao Reservoir. The creatures have escaped from small-scale farms. A resident named Lei, who owns a farm on higher ground, did not suffer, and his place remains secure during the floods. Moreover, he said that despite the escape number being a large amount, the mountainous snakes will likely die after being in the water for a long time. As per the updates, rescue personnel will assist the injured and handle the situation. The nearby residents who were not affected by the disaster have formed a snake-catching team, helping their neighbours by capturing reptiles and avoiding any further damage.
