Flooding across China driven by exceptional rainfall and rare tornadoes has led to multiple deaths and widespread disruption, with authorities ordering “all-out” emergency rescue and relief efforts. In southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the flood alert was upgraded to the highest level after water levels surged above warning thresholds at dozens of river monitoring stations.

At the same time, accidents linked to the flooding continued to unfold. In Guangxi, a snake farm was flooded, prompting the escape of about 900 snakes. Local residents and responders were reported to be involved in dealing with the escaped animals while rescue efforts focused on people affected by the storms.

Meteorologists warned that this year could bring a “complex” mix of hazards—heavy rainstorms, strong winds, and geological disasters—while China’s emergency management and government task forces were deployed to monitor flood conditions and coordinate relief operations.