Typhoon Maysak swept through the southern Chinese province of Guangxi over the weekend, causing rapid flooding and rare tornadoes that have displaced tens of thousands of people. Heavy rain began falling on Sunday in Renhe village, and by early Monday, floodwaters had reached knee height, eventually submerging the first floors of homes.
"The floods happened so rapidly, the water just came so fast. The villagers didn't have time to take food with them when they were running away," said a woman surnamed Zhou from Renhe, speaking to the BBC. Zhou's family is among many affected by the disaster.
Another woman, surnamed Huang from the town of Yunbiao, reported that it took just 10 minutes for floods to submerge villages in her area. Tornadoes, which are rare in the region with the last recorded in 2021, also struck. Local media reported a man in Huanggang was "sucked" out of his high-rise apartment by strong winds, falling 12 storeys to the ground along with his furniture.
According to state media, at least 17 people have died, hundreds have been injured, and tens of thousands evacuated. Rescue efforts are ongoing but hampered by insufficient personnel and small lifeboats unable to reach many affected villages. Villagers stranded in higher ground areas report struggling to obtain food and aid.
Meanwhile, Super Typhoon Bavi is forecast to hit China's eastern coast later this week, prompting warnings from authorities in Nanning.
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