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If you have a fear of snakes, stop reading right now.
Truly frightening footage has emerged of hundreds of venomous snakes escaping a breeding farm as floodwaters smash through a village in Hengzhou, China.
Poisonous cobras were among the almost 900 reptiles that were reportedly released when days of heavy rain caused severe flooding in the area and destroyed their facility.
The bizarre clip shows snakes popping their heads up above the water and slowly slither their way across the body of water in a very Loch Ness style of horror.
They apparently got loose after a nearby reservoir collapsed and the snakes were able to go free in the town, sparking concern from local residents.
The breeding farm is said to have housed a mix of venomous cobras, king rat snakes and non-venomous water snakes.
Emergency teams were dispatched to the scene to search for the escaped reptiles and assist local residents affected by the flooding.
The Hengzhou Emergency Management Bureau confirmed rescue workers were dealing with the incident.
Officials said further information would be released as the situation develops.
The great escape has prompted authorities to stock up on anti-venom and advise residents on what to do if they happen to encounter a snake.
It is understood that at least one person has already been bitten and is receiving medical treatment, according to local media.
The terrifying scenes come after it was reported that at least 39 people lost their lives in China in the last week, after a tropical storm dumped heavy rainfall and caused widespread flooding.
Most of the deaths occurred in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 lives, said Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning city, which has jurisdiction over the area, at a news briefing.
Nine people remain missing in the broader Guangxi region.
The tropical storm Maysak brought record rainfall to Guangxi starting on Saturday, breaching reservoirs and leaving locals stranded for days on top of their homes and offices.
More than 10,000 students and teachers were trapped in a cluster of schools in Guigang city on Thursday, northeast of Hengzhou.
Hundreds of animals have also been left stranded or swept out by the rising floodwaters.
One zoo in Guigang said that more than 100 animals were missing, including two zebras, four porcupines and dozens of tropical birds.
An animal shelter operator in Binyang county, northwest of Hengzhou, also struggled in recent days to rescue about 200 cats and dozens of dogs.
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