Death toll from China storms rises to 15 as dam breaches and tornadoes strike
Typhoon Maysak and severe convective weather have left at least 15 dead, hundreds injured, and tens of thousands displaced across central and southern China, with a separate landslide burying 33 in the northwest.
Typhoon Maysak triggers flooding and dam failures
Typhoon Maysak made landfall on Hainan island on Friday before sweeping into Vietnam and then north into Guangxi. Nearly three days of torrential rain from Saturday to Monday overwhelmed rivers and reservoirs. In Nanning, the regional capital, at least four people died and almost 62,000 were evacuated. The city's deputy mayor Wei Jiang said about 55,000 people were affected. The Liulan reservoir dam in Hengzhou breached, sending a wall of muddy water toward homes. Two other reservoirs, Yunbiao and Liuwang, also overflowed or broke. Footage showed inundated roads, submerged cars, and floodwaters cascading into a construction site.
The breach of two reservoirs in Hengzhou caused severe loss of life and property.
Tornadoes and severe storms strike Hubei
On Monday evening, severe convective weather spawned tornadoes and gale-force winds across Hubei province. At least 11 people were killed and one remains missing. Winds reached 90 miles per hour (149 km/h), ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, and overturning cars. State media reported 4,800 houses damaged and 22 collapsed. The cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou, and Xianning were among the hardest hit.
This episode of severe convective weather was characterised by its sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds.
Landslide buries dozens in Gansu
Separately, a landslide in a village in northwestern Gansu province buried 33 people on Tuesday morning. Rescue workers pulled 17 survivors from the debris, while efforts continued for those still trapped. Authorities did not specify the cause, but the region has seen heavy rainfall in recent days.
Xi orders all-out rescue as criticism mounts
President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to "go all out" in rescue and relief operations, treat the injured, and resettle displaced residents. The Ministry of Emergency Management had warned last month that this year's El Niño could bring more extreme weather. On social media, users sharply criticized local officials after it emerged that the Liulan dam had been recently renovated. The local water authority had claimed the upgrade would provide a "safety dike" for 170,000 people downstream. Some users alleged corruption, while others accused state media of downplaying the disaster.
Go all out in organising emergency operations, treating the injured, resettling affected residents, and carrying out disaster prevention and relief work effectively.
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens eastern China
As recovery efforts continue, China is bracing for Super Typhoon Bavi, which is crossing the Pacific with winds up to 180 mph. The storm passed Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on Monday and is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China from Thursday, according to Xinhua. Weather authorities have raised alerts, and the government has allocated 260 million yuan (€35 million) for disaster relief.
- Typhoon Maysak makes landfall in Hainan, first tropical cyclone to hit China this year.
- Maysak makes second landfall in Vietnam, then heads north into Guangxi.
- Tornadoes and severe storms kill 11 in Hubei province; dam breaches in Guangxi force evacuations.
- Landslide in Gansu buries 33; Xi Jinping orders all-out rescue efforts.
- Super Typhoon Bavi expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China.
