After floods that killed dozens, a Chinese city is bracing for unwelcome guests swimming in the waters that have inundated the streets: hundreds of snakes.

Press reports revealed that about 900 snakes, many of them venomous, have invaded the city of Hengzhou in southern China, where floodwaters have brought this terrifying reality to about one million residents.

According to the American news network CNN, a woman died after being bitten by a snake, likely a cobra, suspected to have escaped from a reptile farm flooded in the area. Official media also reported that several other people have been bitten.

Horrifying videos posted by residents showed snakes swimming in the streets with their heads raised above the floodwaters.

In the great typhoon disaster in China's Guangxi province, a snake farm was destroyed. 900 snakes, including cobras, escaped from the farm. One snake bite case was reported in surrounding villages, and the public was warned. Officials are trying to catch the snakes…

— Futboldur Hayat (@futboldurhayat) July 9, 2026

Chinese authorities initially downplayed the threat, but are now issuing warnings to villagers to stay away from these reptiles. They are also mobilizing snake catchers, boosting antivenom stocks, and preparing hospital staff for a potential influx of bite cases.

On Thursday, the death toll from heavy rains and floods in the Guangxi region of southern China rose to 39, with 9 people still missing, according to official media.

The severe weather has caused widespread disruption across southern and central China this week, with Guangxi experiencing heavy rain and severe flooding, while a super typhoon is heading toward eastern provinces, expected to arrive over the weekend.