Authorities in the southern region of China reported on Thursday that 39 individuals lost their lives due to flooding caused by tropical storm Maysak. At the same time, Taiwan and the eastern coast of China are preparing for another significant storm set to hit in the upcoming days. The majority of the fatalities were linked to a dam breach in an area east of Nanning, where 26 people perished, according to Ding Wei, the vice mayor of the city. Nine individuals are still missing in the wider Guangxi region.
Tropical storm Maysak led to unprecedented levels of rainfall in Guangxi starting last Saturday, resulting in breached reservoirs and leaving people stranded in their homes and other structures for days. Initially, the death toll was reported as six individuals.
Typhoon Bavi is anticipated to move just north of Taiwan, bringing heavy rainfall to the island, home to a population of 23 million, before making landfall in either Zhejiang or Fujian province on Saturday.
Authorities in Taiwan are advising residents to stock up on essentials and prepare for what could be the most potent typhoon to hit the island in recent years.
Heavy rain pounded southern Guangxi for an extended period, with rainfall accumulations ranging from 10 to 40 centimeters in certain areas and exceeding 90 centimeters in severely affected regions, as reported by the national meteorological center.
The breaches in the reservoirs resulted in massive amounts of water flooding into towns and cities. The relief and rescue efforts have involved the use of drones and around 5,700 boats to reach individuals trapped by the floodwaters, with rescuers contending with strong currents and debris to provide assistance. Approximately 130,000 individuals have been evacuated.
Although the floodwaters are subsiding, there are forecasts of additional rainfall in specific areas over the next couple of days. Teams have been dispatched to clear mud and debris, as well as sanitize numerous towns in the severely impacted Hengzhou city, located east of Nanning within its jurisdiction. Ongoing road repairs and the restoration of electricity to over 60,000 households have also been prioritized, as mentioned by Ding.