Weather tracker: Typhoon leaves people stranded on rooftops in China

Typhoon Maysak, the first of the 2026 season to make landfall in China, has unleashed devastating damage across southern and central regions, resulting in at least eleven reported deaths. Intense downpours, with some areas in the Guangxi region receiving up to 280mm of rain in 12 hours, caused rivers to swell and dam walls to break.

By Monday morning, widespread flooding in Nanning and surrounding areas had left many residents stranded on their rooftops, awaiting rescue. The rising waters have introduced a new layer of peril, as hundreds of snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped from flooded breeding farms, according to local media reports on Thursday.

Adding to the destructive impact, Typhoon Maysak contributed to the formation of two powerful tornadoes that swept through central China on Monday evening. This weather phenomenon occurred when warm air, drawn northward by the typhoon, collided with colder air masses in the north, creating conditions ripe for severe storms.