Get you up to speed: Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has killed 39 people in southern China, primarily due to a dam breach that inundated the city of Nanning. About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the Guangxi region, where rescue operations involving over 8,000 personnel and thousands of boats are underway.
Rescue operations in the Guangxi region involve over 8,000 personnel and approximately 5,700 boats, navigating strong currents to reach affected individuals. Authorities are working to clear mud and debris while ongoing road repairs and electricity restoration have successfully returned power to over 60,000 homes.
The vice mayor of Nanning, Ding Wei, reported the death toll from Tropical Storm Maysak has risen to 39, with ongoing rescue efforts involving over 8,000 personnel and 5,700 boats. Authorities are clearing mud and debris while also working to repair roads and restore electricity to affected homes, as further rainfall is anticipated in the coming days.
What remains unclear — It is unknown how many of the escaped animals from Guigang Zoo have been recaptured.
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak claims 39 lives in southern China
News|FloodsFlooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China
About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the Guangxi region while thousands of rescuers have been deployed.
Published On 9 Jul 20269 Jul 2026
Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has killed 39 people in southern China, most of them after a dam breach inundated the city of Nanning.
Ding Wei, the city’s vice mayor, announced the toll at a news briefing on Thursday, up sharply from a previous count of six, after record rainfall breached reservoirs and sent torrents of water through towns and cities in the Guangxi region.
The dam breach in Nanning killed 26 people, Ding said.
About 130,000 people have been evacuated from the region, and drones and thousands of boats have been used in a huge relief and rescue operation to reach people trapped by the waters.
Heavy rain battered southern Guangxi for days, with cumulative rainfall of 10-40cm (4-16in) in some areas and more than 90cm (35in) in hard-hit areas, the national meteorological centre said.
More than 8,000 people and about 5,700 boats have been deployed in the rescue operation, with rescuers battling strong currents and debris to reach victims.
Ding said the floodwaters are receding, but more rain is expected in certain areas in the next two days.
Floodwaters rush from a breach in the Liulan Reservoir dam following heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Maysak on July 7, 2026 in Hengzhou, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China [Xie Feiyu/VCG via Getty Images]
Crews have been deployed to clear mud and debris and disinfect several towns in hard-hit Hengzhou city, which is east of Nanning and under its jurisdiction.
Road repairs are ongoing, and electricity has been restored to more than 60,000 homes, Ding said.
Animals escape after flooding hits zoo
At least 100 animals, including alpacas, miniature pigs and zebras, escaped Guangxi province’s Guigang Zoo after the flooding damaged their enclosures.
The zoo appealed to the public Wednesday for help in finding its escaped animals.
The missing creatures include “two North American raccoons, four porcupines and thirty peacocks”, according to a statement posted by a local district’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.
The zoo said some of the escapees “may be frightened and potentially aggressive”.
“If you spot any of the animals, please keep a safe distance,” the statement said.
“Do not attempt to catch, approach or tease them, as this could be dangerous,” the zoo warned.