A routine metro ride in Nanjing took a decidedly slippery turn after dozens of live rice eels escaped from plastic buckets and began wriggling across the floor of a crowded train carriage. The bizarre scene unfolded on Nanjing Metro Line 2 on August 17, 2026, with passengers suddenly finding themselves recruited into an unexpected eel-catching operation. Videos circulating online show commuters squatting down and trying to grab the slippery creatures with their bare hands before returning them to the buckets. Some eels reportedly slipped into gaps beneath the seats, making the rescue even trickier. For passengers expecting a normal journey, this was one commute that definitely went off the rails.
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When the eels decided to make a break for it
According to reports, the incident happened on a Nanjing Metro Line 2 train when plastic containers carrying live rice eels overturned, sending the animals sliding across the carriage floor. The eels quickly scattered in different directions, while passengers reacted to the unexpected spectacle.
Some commuters immediately stepped in to help catch them. Others watched and filmed the unusual scene on their phones as the slippery creatures darted across the floor. The result was less of a routine metro journey and more of an impromptu wildlife rescue mission.
The eels, meanwhile, appeared to have one clear objective: freedom.
