Overview
- Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Maysak caused reservoir embankments to fail, producing flash floods that officials say left about 39 people dead with many deaths concentrated in Hengzhou.
- Floodwaters destroyed a commercial snake-breeding farm in Dengwei village, allowing roughly 800 to 900 reptiles to escape into streets, fields and homes according to local authorities.
- Video shared by state media and social platforms shows large numbers of snakes swept through muddy water and some cobras surfacing, confirming the scale and mix of species involved.
- Local teams, volunteers and health officials have mounted capture operations, opened temporary clinics and boosted antivenom supplies while at least one confirmed snakebite victim has been treated.
- Some local media have reported a snakebite fatality and sightings of other escaped zoo animals, but those claims remain unevenly verified as authorities warn that more storms could hinder recovery efforts.