Full Breakdown
China Grapples with Deadly Storms, Tornadoes, Floods and Landslides
7/7/2026, 2:52:11 PM
Severe Weather Outbreak Across Central and Southern China
From July 5-7, 2026, severe thunderstorms, gale-force winds and two tornadoes hit Hubei, while heavy rain and flooding battered Guangxi and other southern provinces. A landslide in Gansu buried dozens. State media reported eight to fifteen deaths, hundreds injured and tens of thousands evacuated.
Timeline of Key Developments (July 5-7, 2026)
July 5 night: 149 km/h winds produced tornadoes in Hubei.
July 6 early: Gansu landslide trapped 33 people, 17 rescued.
July 6 evening: Typhoon Maysak’s remnants breached the Liulan dam in Nanning, prompting the highest flood alert and evacuating ~50,000 residents.
July 7 morning: President Xi ordered “all-out” rescue and released 160 million yuan for relief.
July 7 afternoon: Meteorologists warned of 260 mm rain in Guangxi, Jiangsu and Shandong and approaching Super Typhoon Bavi.
Human and Material Impact
Fatalities total eight to fifteen; injuries 275–331. Evacuations exceed 48,000 in Guangxi and over 400 in Hubei. Damage includes about 4,800 houses damaged, 22 collapsed and power outages for roughly 59,000 customers. In Gansu, 33 people were trapped, 17 rescued and 16 remain missing.
Government Response and Official Statements
President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue, emphasizing treatment of the injured, resettlement and prevention of secondary disasters. The State Council raised flood alerts to the highest red level in Guangxi and Guangdong and allocated 160 million yuan for relief in six provinces. Xinhua described the weather as “severe convective … characterised by its sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds.” Local emergency agencies coordinated evacuations, rescue teams and dam inspections.
On-the-Ground Situation
CCTV footage showed rescue workers navigating inflatable boats through flooded streets, inspecting a truck cab shredded by steel and a car smashed into a lamp post. Video of the breached Liulan dam in Nanning captured a torrent of muddy water overwhelming concrete walls. Search teams in Gansu kept searching for the 16 missing.
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
Sources report death tolls of eight, eleven or fifteen and injuries ranging from 275 to 331. Missing persons counts differ: 22 in Guangxi, four elsewhere, and one in Hubei. The cause of the Gansu landslide is still unknown, and tornado intensity lacks independent verification.
Verbatim Quotes
- “go all out” in organising emergency operations. — Xi Jinping, President of China
- “This episode of severe convective weather was characterised by its sudden onset and intense, short-duration winds,” — Xinhua News Agency
- “President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts in organizing flood emergency rescue, disaster relief, and resettlement of the affected people.” — Xi Jinping, President of China
- “Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the relevant authorities to make all possible efforts for the rescue of the affected people.” — Xi Jinping, President of China
Future Outlook: Typhoon Bavi and Continued Rainfall
Meteorologists warn Super Typhoon Bavi, with sustained winds near 290 km/h, may affect Taiwan by Friday and could make landfall on China’s eastern coast later in the week. The National Meteorological Centre forecasts up to 260 mm rain in Guangxi, Jiangsu and Shandong, raising the risk of further floods and landslides.
