China: 900 snakes escape deadly torrential rain

TT

Published 13.24

 

A picture from the state-run Xinhua News Agency shows flooded villages in Hengzhou in the Guangxi region on Monday. Photo: Cao Yiming/Xinhua Via AP/TT

Landslides, floods and tornadoes have claimed at least 15 lives in China. In addition, up to 900 snakes have escaped when a snake farm was washed away.

Extremely heavy rains have caused several rivers in southern China's Guangxi to overflow. Well over 100 warnings for torrential rain have been issued, reports the South China Morning Post.

Videos on social media show how muddy brown water overflows river banks and ordinary streets, dragging cars and people with it. In addition to the deaths, hundreds have been injured and tens of thousands evacuated, according to state-run Chinese media.

Social media is also filled with images of up to 900 snakes – some venomous – that escaped when a facility in Hengzhou collapsed in the rain. In one video, people are seen in waist-deep water trying to catch the snakes with bamboo sticks.

According to the state-run The Global Times, several people have been bitten by snakes.