Deadly flooding in China kill at least 11, release hundreds of snakes, pigs, and ostriches in floodwaters. Photo: dyl0807 / Shutterstock.com Severe flooding and powerful storms triggered by the remnants of Typhoon Maysak have caused widespread disruption across parts of China, with hundreds of snakes escaping from a breeding farm in the southern region of Guangxi and deadly tornadoes leaving at least 11 people dead in Hubei Province.
According to Shanghai Daily, the newspaper which operates under the control of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, floodwaters breached a snake farm in Hengzhou, Guangxi, allowing an estimated 800 to 900 snakes to escape.
VIDEO: SHANGHAI DAILY
800–900 snakes escaped after floodwaters in Hengzhou, Guangxi, breached a local snake farm yesterday. Most are non‑venomous water snakes, but one villager has been bitten and is hospitalized, local official said. Residents are urged to report sightings rather than attempt to… pic.twitter.com/78u5ELEwZY
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 7, 2026
Local officials said most of the escaped reptiles are non-venomous water snakes, although residents have been warned not to approach them. Instead, authorities are urging anyone who spots a snake to report the sighting rather than attempt to capture it.
One villager has already been bitten by a snake and was taken to hospital, according to a local official.
The flooding has also led to dramatic rescue efforts.
VIDEO: SHANGHAI DAILY
In flood-hit Guangxi, a stranded pig was rescued from the water like a claw machine prize. https://t.co/2TaULCs3oN pic.twitter.com/sSqapJgbxp
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 7, 2026
In one incident shared by Shanghai Daily, emergency responders rescued a stranded pig from floodwaters using machinery in an operation likened to retrieving a prize from a claw machine.
VIDEO: SHANGHAI DAILY
Ostriches were also stranded in the floodwaters in Guangxi, adding to the chaos following the snake farm breach.
And also pigs and ostriches were stranded in the floodwaters in Guangxi, adding to the chaos after the snake farm breach. https://t.co/klei2YkOFL pic.twitter.com/zYEqx8n22s
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) July 7, 2026
Meanwhile, eastern Hubei Province has been hit by violent tornadoes and Force 13 straight-line winds, causing extensive damage across the region.
Shanghai Daily, reported that the death toll has risen to 11, while one person remains missing and more than 330 people have been injured. More than 14,600 people have been affected, with over 1,200 homes damaged as rescue operations and damage assessments continue.
Among the most serious incidents was that of a man in Huanggang, Hubei, who was reportedly sucked out of his 12th-floor apartment by violent winds during an unprecedented thunderstorm on the evening of July 6. He survived the fall but remains in intensive care with critical injuries.
Authorities continue to respond to the flooding and storm damage, while urging residents in affected areas to follow official safety advice and avoid unnecessary risks as recovery efforts continue.