Typhoon Maysak has claimed two lives in southern China, triggered dam breaches, and compelled tens of thousands to evacuate. The tropical storm struck Nanning in Guangxi province, where two fatalities were confirmed. After lashing Vietnam and China's Hainan island over the weekend, Maysak is now moving inland, dumping heavy rainfall accumulated from the South China Sea, according to meteorologists.
Widespread Flooding and Evacuations
Approximately 55,000 people have been affected by floods in Nanning, the regional capital of Guangxi. Deputy Mayor Wei Jiang reported on Monday that waters were overflowing or breaching barriers at at least three reservoirs. As a result, around 48,000 residents were evacuated from affected areas. Authorities escalated the flood control emergency response to its highest level, citing “extremely heavy rain” that could worsen conditions and hinder rescue operations.
Roads Submerged and Infrastructure Damage
In Guigang, roughly 270 kilometers (170 miles) away, floodwaters transformed a wide road into a lake, submerging cars and sending brown torrents cascading down a hill into a construction site. The water level at the Guigang hydrological station reached 42 meters by 12:30 pm, as stated by the Ministry of Water Resources. Farther south in Fangchenggang, a verified video showed a small car being washed down a street, with water rising to the steering wheel level of another vehicle. A man was seen struggling to prevent his electric scooter from being swept away.
Super Typhoon Bavi Threatens Eastern China
Meanwhile, China is on alert for Super Typhoon Bavi, currently moving across the Pacific Ocean toward Taiwan. The US National Weather Service reported that Bavi carried winds of up to 180 mph (290 km/h) as it passed over Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Rota on Monday. Weather authorities warned that Bavi would bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China starting Thursday, according to state news agency Xinhua. China, the world's second-largest economy, faces increasing threats from extreme weather linked to the climate crisis. Analysts estimate that weather-related risks could wipe out tens of billions of dollars in commercial activity annually due to urban flooding, industrial disruptions, and crop damage.
Maysak's Path and Forecast
Maysak made landfall in Hainan on Friday, marking the first tropical cyclone to reach the Chinese mainland this year. The storm struck Vietnam on Sunday, where it downed trees and tore metal roofs from buildings in the border city of Mong Cai, as reported by state media. Heavy rainfall is expected across Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, and other regions in the coming days. These three areas alone are home to over 150 million people, exceeding Russia's population.
