Beijing: According to Hong Kong’s ‘South China Morning Post’, a flood video shows people wading through waist-deep water with sticks, trying to catch snakes.
An incident has emerged from China. Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall, around 900 snakes have reportedly been seen roaming openly on roads, many of which could be highly venomous. The snake scare has become a major topic of discussion in China. People carrying sticks and clubs are entering floodwaters in an attempt to catch them.
Where did so many snakes come from?
Guangxi is home to one of the world’s largest snake-breeding centres. Around 30 million reptiles are raised there for use in medicines and leather products. Flooding in the area caused a dam to break, and the collapse of the farm’s walls allowed the snakes to escape into residential neighbourhoods.
China’s Guangxi province has experienced severe flooding due to days of heavy rain. The disaster has claimed 20 lives and also sparked panic over snakes. The floodwaters after the dam break allowed nearly 900 snakes to emerge from a breeding farm after a video was shared online. Torrential rains and flooding that started on Monday have caused havoc and destruction in large parts of China, say officials.
How many snakes escaped from the farm?
On the night of Monday in the city of Hangzhou, the occurrence of storms and floods resulted in the collapse of the snake farm and the escape of snakes from the area. The authorities have appealed to the people to stay alert as poisonous snakes like cobras have already travelled to the nearby vicinity. The video footage captures many snakes floating together with the water stream and also moving themselves through the water. The fear among the public has been further aggravated by the news, according to ‘Global Times’, that a female died in Hangzhou after being bitten by a snake. It was reported that people are rushing into the flood waters in search of snakes.
What was the reaction of people?
According to Hong Kong’s ‘South China Morning Post’, a flood video shows people standing in waist-deep water with sticks, trying to catch snakes. Village official Wu Zhi told the ‘Red Star News Portal’ that most of the snakes were not venomous. A team of 10 people equipped with fishing nets and stun guns was formed to capture them. He warned villagers not to try catching any snake they find in their homes with their bare hands.
