The 60-year-old mother had been saving eggs from her chickens, unable to bear eating them herself, planning to give them to her pregnant daughter-in-law. She had also made arrangements for who would tend the family's fields, intending to travel to Guangdong in August to help care for her future grandchild. However, a catastrophic flood suddenly changed everything.

On July 6th, severe flooding struck Dengwei Village in Yunbiao Town, Hengzhou City, Guangxi. A local snake farm was destroyed, releasing its captive snakes into the floodwaters. That same day, 60-year-old Lu Cuilian was bitten by a highly venomous cobra at her home, while her husband, Mr. Wei, was swept over 100 meters by the torrent before clinging to a tree to survive. With roads and communication lines cut off by the flood, Lu could not be taken to a hospital until the afternoon of July 7th. Despite rescue efforts, she died.

On September 11th, the Hengzhou Natural Resources Bureau responded to the family's inquiry, stating that the snake farm in question had not obtained a wildlife domestication and breeding permit, classifying it as unlicensed and illegal. The farm's operator, identified as Li, has denied any evidence that the fatal snake came from his facility. Local authorities mediated a dispute, but Li reportedly offered only 20,000 yuan as "humanitarian" compensation, which the family rejected. Red Star News reported on September 14th that the family has now filed a lawsuit against Li in court.

Familys Experience

The tragedy began on the morning of July 6th when continuous heavy rainfall from a typhoon caused a breach in the Liulan Reservoir, flooding downstream villages. As Mr. Wei and Lu attempted to close the door against the rising water, it burst open, sweeping debris, wood, and a mass of snakes into their home. Mr. Wei described seeing a group of snakes forced inside. One snake bit Lu on the neck; when she tried to pull it off, she was bitten on the hand. Mr. Wei attempted to help but was swept away by the current, leaving Lu alone in the house. After the water receded, relatives found her in bed, reporting the snakebite. The snake was later identified as a cobra.

Lu was rushed to Hengzhou People's Hospital at around 5 PM on July 7th but was pronounced dead about an hour and a half later. The death certificate confirmed the cause as a venomous snakebite. Villagers reported that the escaped snakes primarily came from Li's farm. The village committee stated an initial estimate of 800 to 900 snakes had escaped. While not all were venomous, a majority were harmless water rat snakes. A team of volunteers from neighboring villages formed to capture the escaped reptiles across the area.

Following the incident, the family confronted Li. According to Ms. Wei, the victim's daughter, Li initially admitted the snakes had escaped and caused harm but later denied any proof that the specific snake involved had come from his farm. Mediation efforts by the local government failed, as Li's compensation offer increased from over 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan, but was met with rejection. The local government's response to a 12345 hotline complaint confirmed the mediation failed. The emergency management bureau has since issued 10,000 yuan in solatium to the family.

Illegal Farm Operation

On September 8th, Red Star News attempted to contact Li, but the call was terminated upon identifying the purpose. The following day, the Hengzhou Natural Resources Bureau stated that the snake farm had been ordered to rectify its practices and has since been demolished. The case was previously transferred to the public security authorities, but without conclusive evidence linking the snake to the farm, they declined to open a criminal investigation. A government staff member from Yunbiao Town confirmed to reporters that they had attempted to mediate. The Natural Resources Bureau's reply to Ms. Wei confirmed the farm was a hidden structure built illegally next to a residential area without the required breeding permits, and no relevant registration data was available. They also noted that after the incident, capture tools were distributed to villagers, and the caught snakes were humanely disposed of, but no specific counts were recorded.

Family Seeks Justice

On September 14th, Ms. Wei confirmed they had submitted a lawsuit against Li. She expressed deep regret over the loss of life and the lack of a satisfactory resolution, emphasizing they will not give up easily in their pursuit of justice. She described her mother's excitement for the birth of her grandson. The mother had meticulously saved eggs and prepared chickens to send to her daughter-in-law in Guangdong. Ms. Wei noted that this period has been incredibly difficult for the family. The image of her mother witnessing her father being swept away before being fatally bitten is a lasting trauma. “She worked her whole life for the family and left before she could enjoy a day of rest,” Wei said. The children had just started paying supplementary pension contributions for their mother, so she could enjoy a comfortable old age with a regular monthly stipend, but she only received one payment before her passing. “Our lives were getting better, and then we lost her this way,” Ms. Wei said, adding that she has yet to come to terms with the tragedy.