7th July 2026 – (Guangzhou) Typhoon Maysak has left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands across southern China, as torrential rain continues to batter the region.
The fatalities were reported in Nanning, capital of Guangxi province, where authorities said approximately 55,000 residents had been affected by widespread flooding. Around 48,000 people were evacuated as rising waters overwhelmed parts of the city. Local officials confirmed that water levels had either exceeded safety thresholds or breached embankments at three reservoirs.
In response to what was described as “extremely heavy rain”, officials raised the flood-control emergency response to its highest level, warning that further downpours could intensify the crisis and complicate rescue operations.
In Guigang, about 270 kilometres from Nanning, floodwater submerged vehicles and transformed major roads into vast pools. At one construction site, muddy torrents cascaded downhill into the area. The Ministry of Water Resources reported that water levels at the Guigang hydrological monitoring station had climbed to 42 metres by early afternoon on Monday.
Further south in Fangchenggang, video footage circulating online showed a small car being swept along a flooded street, while another vehicle was partially submerged up to steering-wheel height. A man was seen struggling to prevent his electric scooter from being carried away by the current.
Maysak first made landfall in China’s southern island province of Hainan on Friday, becoming the first tropical cyclone to strike the Chinese mainland this year. It subsequently hit Vietnam on Sunday before weakening as it moved inland, releasing vast quantities of moisture accumulated over the South China Sea.
The storm has already caused significant disruption beyond Guangxi. In northern China, five additional deaths were reported following separate episodes of heavy rainfall, including two people killed in a flash flood in Inner Mongolia and three others in Liaoning province.
Meteorologists have forecast further heavy rain across Guangxi, Guizhou and Hunan in the coming days, regions that together are home to more than 150 million people. Meanwhile, authorities are also monitoring the approach of Super Typhoon Bavi, which is tracking across the Pacific towards Taiwan. Weather agencies have warned that the system could bring powerful winds and intense rainfall to eastern China later this week.
