Authorities in the southern region of China reported on Thursday that 39 individuals lost their lives due to flooding caused by tropical storm Maysak, while Taiwan and the eastern coast of China prepared for the impact of another significant storm anticipated to hit in the upcoming days. The majority of the fatalities resulted from a dam breach in an area located to the east of Nanning, where 26 individuals perished, as stated by Ding Wei, the vice mayor of the city, during a press conference. In the broader Guangxi region, nine people are still unaccounted for.
Beginning on Saturday, Maysak brought unprecedented levels of rainfall to Guangxi, resulting in the overflow of reservoirs and leaving people stranded in residences for several days. Initially, the death toll was reported as six individuals.
Typhoon Bavi is predicted to track just north of Taiwan, bringing heavy rainfall to the island, which has a population of 23 million, before making landfall in either Zhejiang or Fujian province on Saturday.
Authorities in Taiwan have advised residents to stock up on essential supplies and prepare for potentially the most intense typhoon to hit the island in recent years.
Continuous heavy rainfall pounded southern Guangxi, with some regions experiencing cumulative rainfall ranging from 10 to 40 centimeters, while severely affected areas received over 90 centimeters of rain, according to the national meteorological center.
The breaches in reservoirs unleashed torrents of water into urban areas and towns. To aid those trapped by the waters, a large-scale relief and rescue operation involving drones and approximately 5,700 boats has been initiated, with rescue teams contending with strong currents and debris in their efforts to reach affected individuals. Approximately 130,000 individuals have been evacuated.
While the floodwaters are subsiding, there are forecasts for further rainfall in certain areas over the next two days. Efforts are underway to clear mud and debris and sanitize various towns in the severely impacted city of Hengzhou, which falls under the jurisdiction of Nanning. Restoration of roads and electricity has been prioritized, with over 60,000 households having their power supply reinstated, as mentioned by Ding.