Authorities in the southern region of China reported on Thursday that 39 individuals lost their lives due to flooding caused by tropical storm Maysak, as Taiwan and China’s eastern coast prepared for another impending major storm. The vice mayor of Nanning, Ding Wei, disclosed that most of the fatalities were linked to a dam breach in an area east of the city, resulting in 26 deaths, with nine individuals still missing in the broader Guangxi region.
Tropical storm Maysak brought unprecedented rainfall to Guangxi, initiating reservoir breaches and leaving people stranded in their homes for several days. The initial death toll stood at six individuals. Typhoon Bavi is anticipated to skirt just north of Taiwan, bringing substantial rainfall to the island’s population of 23 million before making landfall in Zhejiang or Fujian province over the weekend.
In response to the imminent threat, Taiwanese authorities advised residents to stock up on essentials and prepare for potentially the most severe typhoon in recent memory. Southern Guangxi endured relentless heavy rainfall for days, with certain areas receiving between 10 and 40 centimeters of rain and over 90 centimeters in severely affected zones, according to the national meteorological center.
The breached reservoirs unleashed torrents of water into urban areas, necessitating a large-scale relief and rescue effort involving drones and approximately 5,700 boats to reach those trapped by the flooding. Despite the challenging conditions of strong currents and debris, rescuers have been striving to aid individuals in distress, resulting in the evacuation of around 130,000 residents.
While the floodwaters are subsiding, additional rainfall is projected in certain regions over the next 48 hours. Cleanup operations are underway, including the removal of mud and debris, as well as the disinfection of various towns in Hengzhou city, located east of Nanning. Repair work on roads is in progress, and electricity has been restored to more than 60,000 households, as confirmed by Ding.