A number of snakes crawled onto a road in Fangshan district, Beijing, unnerving local residents.

Experts said the snakes had been released without any attention being paid to the location or their natural habitats.

On May 16, local people saw that a number of snakes had crawled onto a road and instantly became concerned that the reptiles were an omen foretelling a geological disaster.

After hearing of the snakes, experts from Beijing's seismological bureau and zoo conducted an investigation at the site.

They found about 80 dead snakes there, none of which belonged to any indigenous species.

Since religious articles were found on the spot, experts concluded that someone released the snakes on purpose.