Death Toll Rises to 39 After Devastating Floods in Southern China

Thirty-nine people have been killed in flooding in southern China caused by Tropical Storm Maysak, regional authorities said today (Thursday). The death toll marks a sharp increase from the figures released yesterday, when only six fatalities had been reported, after rescue teams were finally able to reach the hardest-hit areas.

Twenty-six of those killed died after a dam burst in the city of Nanning. Vice Mayor Ding Wei said at a press conference that the disaster occurred after the storm brought exceptionally heavy rainfall, causing reservoirs to overflow and several dams to fail. According to him, "the floodwaters are receding," but he warned that additional rainfall is expected in some areas over the next two days.

Tropical Storm Maysak battered Guangxi province, bringing unprecedented amounts of rain. According to the National Meteorological Center, different parts of the province recorded between 10 and 40 centimeters (4 to 16 inches) of rainfall, while the hardest-hit areas received more than 90 centimeters (35 inches).

The breached dams sent massive volumes of water rushing into cities and towns, leaving many residents trapped for days in their homes and other buildings. In response, authorities launched a large-scale rescue operation, deploying drones and thousands of boats in an effort to reach those still cut off by the flooding.

According to officials, more than 8,000 rescue personnel and nearly 5,700 boats are taking part in the emergency response. Rescue crews are contending with strong currents and large amounts of debris carried by the floodwaters, making it more difficult to access affected areas and locate those still trapped.

At the same time, about 130,000 people have been evacuated from their homes because of the flooding. As waters began to recede in some areas, crews were dispatched to clear mud and debris and carry out disinfection work in several towns around Nanning, among the areas hardest hit by the disaster.