Full Breakdown
Deadly Floods, Tornadoes and a Snake Surge Sweep Southern and Central China
7/10/2026, 4:49:45 PM
Catastrophic Flooding and Tornadoes
In early July 2026 a series of extreme weather events devastated China’s south-west and central regions. In Guangxi Province, heavy rain from Tropical Storm Maysak caused a partial collapse of a reservoir dam in Hengzhou, killing 26 people and bringing the provincial death toll to 39, with nine still missing. Simultaneously, rare tornadoes ripped through Hubei Province, killing at least 11 people, injuring more than 330 and leaving dozens of homes collapsed or heavily damaged.
Background & Context
Maysak arrived on Saturday, delivering record-breaking rainfall—4 to 16 inches in many areas and over 35 inches in the hardest-hit zones, according to the National Meteorological Center. A second system, Typhoon Bavi, lingered at sea and was forecast to strike Taiwan, then China’s eastern coast later in the week. The tornadoes in Hubei were linked by experts to Maysak’s remnants overlapping the early-summer rainy season, a combination that produced wind gusts up to 260 km/h.
Data & Statistics
- Deaths: 39 (Guangxi) + 11 (Hubei) = 50 confirmed; some reports list 15 total or 17 total, reflecting evolving counts.
- Missing: 9 (Guangxi) + 1 (Hubei).
- Evacuations: ~130,000 people displaced in Guangxi; 5,700 boats and 8,000 rescue personnel deployed.
- Rainfall: 10 – 40 cm (4 – 16 in) across Guangxi, with peaks over 90 cm (35 in) in flood-stricken districts.
- Infrastructure: 341 reservoirs exceeded flood-control limits; 4,800 houses damaged and 22 collapsed in Hubei; over 100 zoo animals missing; ~200 cats and dozens of dogs rescued from floodwaters.
- Snakes: 800 – 900 snakes escaped a flooded breeding farm in Hengzhou, including cobras and non-venomous water and rat snakes.
Official Statements & Responses
Vice mayor Ding Wei of Nanning said the floodwaters were receding but warned that additional rain was expected in the coming days. President Xi Jinping called on officials to “go all out” in rescue, treatment, resettlement and disaster-prevention efforts. Water Resources Minister Li Guoying cautioned that persistent heavy rainfall placed “the safety of reservoirs and embankments … under a severe test.” Hubei meteorological expert Wang Xiaoling noted that tornadoes are “extremely rare in Hubei.” Local village head Wu Zhi reported the mass escape of snakes after the farm was washed away.
Criticism & Opposition
State media could not verify the snake-escape reports; the Associated Press labeled the claims “unverified,” highlighting a gap in official confirmation of wildlife impacts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Death toll figures vary across outlets: NBC News cites 39 deaths in Guangxi, while The Guardian and Al Jazeera report 15–17 total deaths across regions. Snake-related fatalities are also disputed, with one local report claiming a woman died from a bite, a claim the AP could not confirm.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ding said the floodwaters are receding but more rain is expected in some areas in the next two days.” — Ding Wei, Vice Mayor, Nanning
- “go all out” — Xi Jinping, President of China
- “Due to the impact of persistent heavy rainfall and the prolonged passage of floodwaters at high levels, the safety of reservoirs and embankments in the affected areas faces a severe test,” — Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources
- “Around 800 to 900 snakes escaped on Monday morning after a breeding farm was washed away, Wu Zhi, the head of a local village committee, told state-owned media Red Star News.” — Wu Zhi, Head of Village Committee, Hengzhou
What’s Next
The National Meteorological Center warned that central and southern provinces should prepare for further torrential rain on Tuesday, while Typhoon Bavi is expected to affect Taiwan from Friday and make landfall on China’s eastern coast later in the week, bringing additional wind and rain threats. Rescue crews continue to search for missing persons and clear debris as floodwaters slowly subside.
