More than 70 crocodiles on the loose after rainstorms in China

In the past two days, seven fatalities have occurred due to landslides as China grapples with continuous heavy rains. The relentless downpours, part of record rainfall across the region, have led to nearly 70 adult crocodiles escaping from a farm in southern China, authorities have cautioned.

The severe rain has caused havoc in southern China, particularly in the western Guangdong province. Maoming, a city near the coast in this region, has been severely affected, prompting authorities to issue warnings for residents to remain indoors as more than 70 crocodiles are reported to be roaming in the city.

According to reports in Chinese media, an emergency official stated that 69 adult crocodiles and six juveniles managed to escape. Although some have been recaptured, the operation remains challenging due to the depth of the lake they are currently in.

Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries at this time, and there is no update regarding how many crocodiles have been successfully recaptured. The persistent rainfall, stemming from the remnants of former Typhoon Haikui, has resulted in over 100 landslides in China, leaving approximately 1,360 residents trapped in floodwater.

The heavy rains persisted in the region on both Sunday and Monday, triggering additional landslides in the western areas, as reported by state media. In Yulin, a city in the Guangxi region, seven people have lost their lives, and three are still missing, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Further south, Beihai city experienced widespread downpours, leading to significant flooding. Rescue operations were conducted with rescuers navigating thigh-deep waterlogged areas to evacuate residents using boats.

In response to the continuous rainfall, the city’s observatory raised its storm warning to the highest level in a four-tier alert system. This decision followed more than 101mm (4 inches) of rain falling within a three-hour period on Tuesday morning, along with warnings of flash floods, geological disasters, and urban and rural waterlogging.

Although Typhoon Haikui struck southern China eight days ago and has since weakened to a tropical storm, the unrelenting rain continues to inundate southwestern Guangxi, exacerbating the region’s ongoing challenges.