Typhoon Maysak Leaves Six Dead, Thousands Evacuated in Southern China

Typhoon Maysak, the first to make landfall in China this year, has left a trail of destruction in the southern Guangxi region. Torrential rains triggered severe flooding and caused multiple reservoir breaches, particularly in Nanning, the regional capital. The latest official figures indicate six fatalities and 11 people still missing. The storm forced the evacuation of 130,000 residents, impacting a total of 375,000 people across the province.

The Liulan reservoir in Hengzhou, under Nanning's administration, experienced two breaches totaling about 50 meters, releasing a significant volume of water into lower-lying areas. Local media cited facility personnel reporting the breaches. Rainfall associated with Maysak reached up to 553.8 millimeters in Guangxi, leading to swollen rivers, urban inundation, and power outages. Currently, 341 reservoirs in the region exceed their floodwater limits, and 56 monitoring stations along 41 rivers report water levels above alert thresholds.

Meteorologists noted that the typhoon intensified near the Guangxi coast, lingering for approximately 26 hours as a tropical storm before weakening to a tropical depression. This prolonged presence facilitated widespread, persistent, and heavy rainfall. Rescue operations are ongoing, with over 8,000 personnel, 1,700 vehicles, and 5,700 vessels deployed for search and rescue efforts and debris removal.

President Xi Jinping urged all possible efforts for rescue, relief, and relocation of affected individuals, following the multiple disasters across various regions. China has been experiencing a succession of intense rains in its central and southern areas since mid-May, compounded now by active typhoons in nearby seas. Forecasters warn that Super Typhoon Bavi is advancing toward the country, with its effects expected to be felt in the southeast starting Thursday.

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The Liulan reservoir, situated in the locality Hengzhou, under administration of Nanning, suffered two breaches of about 50 meters in total, through which a large volume of water began to flow towards areas downstream.