At least 17 people have been confirmed dead and more than 60,000 residents displaced after Typhoon Maysak unleashed devastating floods, violent thunderstorms and tornadoes across parts of China.
The storm, which made landfall over the weekend, inundated communities in the southern Guangxi region while also triggering tornadoes hundreds of kilometres away in Hubei province.
Authorities said over 60,000 people have been evacuated, with at least 90,000 residents affected by the flooding.
Videos circulating on social media captured neighbourhoods submerged by floodwaters, residents trapped on rooftops awaiting rescue and emergency responders using inflatable boats to reach stranded communities.
Nanning and nearby villages were among the hardest-hit areas after days of relentless rainfall caused rivers to burst their banks and damaged sections of dam walls.
Officials warned that persistent heavy rain could complicate ongoing rescue and relief operations.
President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue and relief efforts, directing authorities to prioritise treatment for the injured, relocate displaced residents and reinforce disaster response measures.
Typhoon Maysak is the first storm of the 2026 typhoon season to make landfall in China.
Chinese state media described the weather system as being marked by its “sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds.”
Flooding has also sparked public safety concerns after snakes from breeding facilities in Hengzhou city, along with wild snakes, were reportedly washed away by floodwaters and found in residential neighbourhoods.
In Hubei province, at least two tornadoes formed after cold air from northern China collided with the warm, moisture-filled air brought by Typhoon Maysak.
Footage shared on Chinese social media showed destructive winds ripping through parts of Ezhou and Huanggang.
Meteorologists noted that tornadoes are uncommon in the region, with the previous recorded incident occurring in 2021.
According to China’s National Meteorological Centre, parts of Guangxi have recorded between 100 and 400 millimetres of rainfall since the weekend, while some areas received more than 900 millimetres.
The agency warned that heavy rain is expected to continue across the region, prompting the suspension of some train services as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Super Typhoon Bavi is forecast to move towards China’s eastern coast later this week, raising fears of additional disruption.
China regularly experiences typhoons during the summer months, but experts say climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense rainfall events, increasing the likelihood of severe flooding and related disasters.
