Nearly 900 Venomous Snakes Escape As Typhoon Maysak Floods Southern China, Death Toll Rises To 39

Nearly 900 Venomous Snakes Escape as Typhoon Maysak Floods Southern China, Death Toll Rises to 39 Chinese authorities have launched an emergency operation after nearly 900 snakes, many of them venomous, escaped from breeding farms following severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Maysak in the southern Guangxi region, adding a new public safety threat to a disaster that has claimed at least 39 lives. The reptiles, including cobras and other venomous species, escaped after floodwaters damaged snake-breeding facilities in Hengzhou, prompting authorities to warn residents to avoid attempting to capture the animals and to report any sightings immediately. Emergency response teams equipped with nets and stun guns have been deployed to recover the escaped snakes, while hospitals have increased stocks of anti-venom and activated emergency treatment procedures for snakebite victims. The flooding followed days of torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Maysak, which caused reservoirs to overflow, damaged homes and infrastructure, and forced the evacuation of about 130,000 residents across affected communities. Rescue workers have also carried out large-scale operations to evacuate stranded residents and students from inundated areas. Authorities said the flooding has been particularly severe in Guangxi, where breached reservoirs and swollen rivers submerged villages and farmland. Emergency management agencies have continued to issue warnings over the risk of further flooding and landslides as heavy rainfall persists in parts of southern China. The disaster has also affected wildlife. Floodwaters damaged a zoo in Guigang, leading to the disappearance of more than 100 animals, while officials took steps to prevent larger predators from escaping their enclosures during the storm. President Xi Jinping has called for intensified rescue and disaster relief efforts, urging authorities to prioritise the protection of lives and property as emergency personnel continue search-and rescue operations and assess the full extent of the damage. Meteorologists have warned that southern China could experience additional heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising concerns about renewed flooding in already saturated communities. Officials have advised residents in affected areas to remain vigilant, follow evacuation orders where necessary and avoid floodwaters because of hazards such as unstable infrastructure, contaminated water and escaped wildlife. The escape of hundreds of venomous snakes has become one of the most unusual consequences of the disaster, underscoring the cascading risks that extreme weather events can pose to public safety beyond the immediate impacts of flooding. Rescue and recovery operations remain underway as authorities work to contain the snake threat and assist communities affected by one of the region’s most severe flooding events in recent years.