See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:00 BST, 9 July 2026 | Updated: 11:03 BST, 9 July 2026
Hundreds of snakes have plagued a village in China after rainfall from a powerful typhoon flooded a breeding farm, releasing them into the water.Footage shows the reptiles rapidly gliding through murky floodwater in the village of Hengzhou. In one particularly terrifying video, a cobra can be seen poking its menacing head out from the water, while another shows villagers prodding the snakes with a broom as they weave through the floods. The snakes, which, according to local media, came from a local breeding farm, prompted authorities to stock up on antivenom and advise residents on what to do if they encountered a snake. At least one villager is understood to have been bitten and was receiving medical treatment, according to local media. The terrifying scenes come as 39 people have died in China, after a tropical storm dumped heavy rainfall and caused widespread flooding. Most of the deaths were in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 lives, said Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning city, which has jurisdiction over the area, at a news briefing. Nine people remained missing in the broader Guangxi region. Hundreds of snakes have plagued a village in China after rainfall from a powerful typhoon flooded a breeding farm, releasing them into the water Terrifying footage shows snakes weaving through floodwater after a typhoon flooded a breeding far in the Chinese village of Hengzhou The snakes prompted authorities to stock up on antivenom At least one villager is understood to have been bitten and was receiving medical treatmentTropical Storm Maysak brought record rainfall to Guangxi starting on Saturday, breaching reservoirs and stranding people for days in homes and other buildings. The previously announced death toll on Tuesday was six people.A second storm, Typhoon Bavi, is at sea and forecast to pass just north of Taiwan, bringing heavy rain to the island of 23million people, and make landfall in Zhejiang or Fujian province on Saturday.Heavier-than-expected rain battered southern Guangxi for days, with cumulative rainfall of 4 to 16 inches in some areas and more than 35 inches in hard-hit areas, the national meteorological centre said.Rescue teams were still bringing out more than 10,000 trapped students and teachers from a cluster of schools in Guigang city on Thursday, northeast of Hengzhou. Animals were also stranded or swept out by the rising floodwaters.A zoo in Guigang said that more than 100 animals were missing, including two zebras, four porcupines and dozens of tropical birds.An animal shelter operator in Binyang county, northwest of Hengzhou, struggled in recent days to rescue about 200 cats and dozens of dogs, bringing the dogs two at a time through a strong current. It comes as 39 people have died in China, after a tropical storm dumped heavy rainfall and caused widespread flooding Most of the deaths were in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 livesDrones and some 5,700 boats have been used in a massive relief and rescue operation to reach people trapped by the waters, with rescuers battling stiff currents and debris to try to reach people. About 130,000 people have been evacuated.Ding said the floodwaters are receding, but more rain is expected in some areas in the next two days. Crews have been deployed to clear mud and debris and disinfect several towns in Hengzhou.
