At least 17 people have died and tens of thousands have been displaced after Typhoon Maysak triggered severe flooding, thunderstorms and tornadoes across parts of China.
The extreme weather, which began after the typhoon made
landfall over the weekend, has inundated communities in the southern Guangxi
region, while also spawning tornadoes hundreds of kilometres away in Hubei
province.
More than 60,000 people have reportedly been evacuated, with
at least 90,000 affected by the flooding.
Several videos circulating on social media showed submerged
communities, residents stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue and emergency
workers navigating flooded streets in inflatable boats.
The city of Nanning and surrounding villages were among the
worst-hit after days of torrential rainfall caused rivers to overflow and
damaged sections of dam walls.
Authorities warned that continued heavy rainfall could
hamper ongoing rescue operations.
President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue and relief
efforts, directing authorities to prioritise treatment for the injured,
resettle displaced residents and strengthen disaster response measures.
Maysak is the first typhoon to make landfall in China during
the 2026 season.
Chinese state media described the storm as being
characterised by its “sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds”.
The flooding has also raised concerns over public safety
after snakes from breeding facilities in Hengzhou city were reportedly swept
away by floodwaters, alongside wild snakes, with some entering residential
areas.
Meanwhile, at least two tornadoes struck Hubei province
after cold air from northern China collided with warm, moisture-laden air
associated with Typhoon Maysak.
Videos shared on Chinese social media showed powerful winds
tearing through the cities of Ezhou and Huanggang.
Meteorologists said tornadoes are rare in the region, with
the last recorded occurrence in 2021.
China’s National Meteorological Centre said parts of Guangxi
had received between 100 millimetres and 400 millimetres of rainfall since the
weekend, while some locations recorded more than 900 millimetres.
The agency warned that heavy rainfall would persist across
the region, with some train services already suspended for safety reasons.
Super Typhoon Bavi, another storm, is forecast to approach
China’s eastern coast later this week and could cause further disruption.
China experiences typhoons during the summer months, but
climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall
events, heightening the risks of flooding and associated disasters.
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