CHINA

Tropical Storm Maysak Triggers Deadly Floods, Reservoir Breach in Guangxi

Published: Jul. 8, 2026 4:02 a.m. GMT+8

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A car is swept away by floodwaters below a breach in the Liulan Reservoir in Hengzhou, Nanning, Guangxi, on July 7, 2026. Photo: VCG

Flooding triggered by Typhoon Maysak has killed six people and left 11 missing in China’s southern Guangxi region, where breached reservoirs sent water surging into villages, local authorities said Tuesday.

The storm has exposed the vulnerability of aging water infrastructure in one of China’s flood-prone southern regions, as extreme rain pushed rivers and reservoirs beyond safe levels.

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Typhoon Maysak killed 6 people and left 11 missing in Guangxi, China, after breached reservoirs flooded villages.
Over 375,000 people affected, 130,000 evacuated, and 12,900 hectares of crops damaged; Liulan Reservoir (built 1958–1960) suffered a major breach.
Remnants of Maysak spawned tornadoes in Hubei, killing 11 people; 341 reservoirs remained above flood limits as more rain was forecast.

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What Happened When

Built between 1958 and 1960：: Liulan Reservoir was constructed.

In 2024：: The Liulan Reservoir area underwent a modernization project with a budget of more than 380 million yuan.

July 3, 2026：: Typhoon Maysak made landfall in Hainan.

From July 3 to July 5, 2026：: About two-thirds of Guangxi's townships recorded heavy rain or worse due to Maysak's slow movement and interaction with monsoon moisture.

July 4, 2026：: Typhoon Maysak crossed the Gulf of Tonkin and made landfall again in northern Vietnam before moving into Guangxi.

On Monday, 2026：: Emergency officials in Hengzhou raised the local flood-control response to the highest level after Liulan and several other reservoirs reported dangerous conditions.

By Monday afternoon, 2026：: A breach in the Liulan Reservoir in Hengzhou stabilized at about 110 meters.

On Monday night, 2026：: Maysak weakened over Hunan province and China's national forecaster stopped tracking it as a named storm.

Tuesday, 2026：: Local authorities reported that flooding triggered by Typhoon Maysak had killed six people and left 11 missing in Guangxi.

By Tuesday evening, 2026：: Authorities said 341 reservoirs remained above flood-limit levels in Guangxi, while 56 monitoring stations on 41 rivers were above alert levels.

AI generated, for reference only