Flooding from days of heavy rain in southern China has killed 39 people
[July 09, 2026]
By KEN MORITSUGU
BEIJING (AP) — Authorities in southern China said Thursday that 39
people died in flooding after a tropical storm dumped heavy rainfall, as
Taiwan and China's east coast prepared for a typhoon expected to make
landfall in the coming days.
Most of the deaths were in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a
reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 lives,
said Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning city, which has jurisdiction
over the area, said at a news briefing. Nine people remained missing in
the broader Guangxi region.
Tropical Storm Maysak brought record rainfall to Guangxi starting
Saturday, breaching reservoirs and stranding people for days in homes
and other buildings. The previously announced death toll on Tuesday was
six people.
A second storm, Typhoon Bavi, is at sea and forecast to pass just north
of Taiwan, bringing heavy rain to the island of 23 million people, and
make landfall in Zhejiang or Fujian province on Saturday.
Heavier-than-expected rain battered southern Guangxi for days, with
cumulative rainfall of 10 to 40 centimeters (4 to 16 inches) in some
areas and more than 90 centimeters (35 inches) in hard-hit areas, the
national meteorological center said.
Rescue teams were still bringing out more than 10,000 trapped students
and teachers from a cluster of schools in Guigang city Thursday,
northeast of Hengzhou.
Animals were also stranded or swept out by the rising floodwaters.
A zoo in Guigang said that more than 100 animals were missing, including
two zebras, four porcupines and dozens of tropical birds. In Hengzhou,
snakes reportedly from a farm prompted authorities to stock up on
antivenom and advise residents what to do if they encountered a snake.
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In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers evacuate
stranded teachers and students at Xijiang education park in the
aftermath of tropical storm Maysak in Guigang City, south China's
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 8, 2026. (Zhou Hua/Xinhua via
AP)
An animal shelter operator in Binyang country, northwest of Hengzhou,
struggled in recent days to rescue about 200 cats and dozens of
dogs, bringing the dogs two at a time through a strong current. The
cats climbed up to the rafters as the waters rose.
Drones and some 5,700 boats have been used in a massive relief and
rescue operation to reach people trapped by the waters, with
rescuers battling stiff currents and debris to try to reach people.
About 130,000 people have been evacuated.
Ding said the floodwaters are receding but more rain is expected in
some areas in the next two days. Crews have been deployed to clear
mud and debris and disinfect several towns in Hengzhou.
Road repairs are ongoing and electricity has been restored to more
than 60,000 homes, Ding said.
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Associated Press video producers Wayne Zhang and Olivia Zhang
contributed to this report.
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