Typhoon Maysak has unleashed a trail of destruction across China, causing at least 21 deaths and displacing tens of thousands of residents. The storm, the first of the 2026 season to make landfall, brought intense, short-duration winds and record-shattering rainfall that overwhelmed local infrastructure.
In the southern province of Guangxi, floodwaters rose with such speed that villagers were left trapped on rooftops with limited supplies, while in the central province of Hubei, rare tornadoes caused further chaos. One man in Huanggang was reportedly sucked out of his high-rise apartment and plunged 12 stories after winds shattered his windows.
State media reports that at least 60,000 people have been evacuated, though residents on the ground describe a chaotic response, citing a lack of rescue personnel and inadequate equipment.
As the Chinese government orders 'all-out' relief efforts, the scale of the disaster continues to grow, with another storm, Super Typhoon Bavi, already churning toward the coast.
Beyond the immediate threat of drowning, the floods have also caused secondary hazards, including the escape of snakes from commercial farms, further complicating the plight of those stranded in the rising waters.
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