09.07.2026 16:31
900 snakes that escaped from a flood caused by a typhoon in China have invaded Dengwei village. The venomous snakes roaming in the floodwaters have become a nightmare for the villagers.
The severe flood disaster caused by a typhoon in China brought an unexpected danger. Due to heavy rainfall, approximately 900 snakes escaped from a flooded snake breeding farm, effectively invading the surrounding village. Moments of hundreds of snakes, including venomous cobras, moving through the floodwaters were captured on cell phone cameras.
The incident occurred in Dengwei village, Hengzhou City, China. The heavy rains and floods caused by Typhoon Maysak led to the collapse of the Liulan Dam. With the dam damaged, the nearby snake breeding farm was also submerged, and hundreds of snakes escaped into the natural habitat.
They Spread into the Village with the Floodwaters
Images shared on social media showed muddy floodwaters covering village streets, with many snakes crawling through and around the water.
In some videos, villagers standing in waist-high floodwaters were seen trying to catch snakes with bamboo sticks. Local residents had to struggle against both the flood disaster and the snake threat simultaneously.
Approximately 900 Snakes Escaped from the Farm
According to local authorities, the incident occurred on July 6 after the Liulan Dam was damaged by heavy rainfall.
It was reported that about 900 snakes escaped from the production facility damaged by the floodwaters.
The farm was stated to contain venomous cobras as well as King Rat Snakes and non-venomous water snakes. Authorities announced that not all escaped snakes were dangerous, but due to the presence of venomous species, extensive security measures were taken in the area.
Following the incident, numerous search and rescue teams were deployed to the village. The teams both helped citizens affected by the flood and began efforts to capture the snakes scattered in the environment.
The Hengzhou Emergency Management Bureau stated that different agencies worked in coordination to bring the situation under control.
According to state media CGTN, a rapid response system was established in local hospitals to handle potential snake bites. Health teams set up special emergency treatment units to avoid delays in cases of venomous snake bites.
One Person Hospitalized Due to Snake Bite
Authorities reported that a villager was bitten by a snake during the incident and was rushed to the hospital.
While no detailed information was shared about the health condition of the person undergoing treatment, warnings were issued to local residents to be careful and not approach the snakes they captured.
Snakes Captured with Nets and Electroshock Devices
Wu Zhi, head of the local village committee, stated in an interview with state media that most of the escaped snakes were non-venomous.
Wu Zhi said the teams used fishing nets and electroshock devices to capture hundreds of snakes. Authorities reported that search operations were ongoing in the area and not all snakes had been captured yet.
It was stated that new developments regarding the incident would be shared with the public.
Snake Farms Are Common in China
China is known as one of the world's largest snake farming countries.
Snakes are bred in the country for use in traditional Chinese medicine, while their meat is consumed in luxury restaurants. Additionally, their skins are used in the production of luxury leather goods, and their venom is collected in special facilities for use in drug development and medical research.
Therefore, numerous commercial snake breeding farms operate in the country.
Typhoon Maysak Caused Major Destruction
Typhoon Maysak, the underlying cause of the escaped snakes, caused massive destruction in southern China.
At least 39 people died due to the typhoon according to initial assessments. Heavy rains submerged many settlements, and dams, roads, and agricultural lands also suffered severe damage.
Authorities continue to warn citizens to be careful in areas where the flood risk persists.