Why do a large number of earthworms crawl on the road beside the Nanjing River?

According to reports, in July 10, some citizens reported that there were a large number of earthworms crawling along the landscape road along the Sancha River in Nanjing. Experts responded that the recent sultry weather and continuous rainfall have caused the caves where earthworms live to be flooded, making them "unable to breathe".

It is reported that on the morning of July 10, the river in Sancha River in Gulou District has risen to Landscape Road. In the exposed part of the landscape road, many earthworms are crawling. Some passing citizens also took a detour after seeing it, and even some children were scared to cry. Residents nearby said that these earthworms have been crawling for some time, and a large number of earthworms were trampled by pedestrians and crushed by vehicles while crawling.

Residents living nearby say that this is a phenomenon that occurs every summer. Because the river rises during the flood season, the caves where they live are flooded, so earthworms have to climb high to avoid the river. Hundreds of earthworms crawl on the landscape road, and some kind citizens passing by will pick them up in the grass next to them.

Experts say that earthworms have no lungs and gills, so they like to move in warm and humid soil. If they stay in the water for a long time, they will drown. If the soil moisture content exceeds 80%, earthworms will sense the danger and will take the initiative to crawl to the lower water content.