Full Breakdown
Typhoon Maysak Flood Death Toll Revised to 159 in Guangxi, China
8/24/2026, 12:11:06 AM
Revised Fatalities and Missing Persons
State news agency Xinhua reported that the official death toll from the floods caused by Typhoon Maysak in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region rose from 39 to 159, with 10 people still missing. The earlier figure of 39 deaths had been announced on July 9 during the initial emergency response.
Extent of Flood Impact
The disaster affected more than 1.65 million residents across the municipalities of Nanning and Guigang. Local authorities said 23,300 people were evacuated in Nanning and 20,500 in Guigang. Temporary shelters now house roughly 78,300 people in Nanning and 15,000 in Guigang.
Dam Failures and Primary Cause of Deaths
The collapse of two major reservoirs—Liulan and Yunbiao—accounted for the majority of fatalities. In Nanning, 107 of the 136 deaths were linked to the dam breaches, while Guigang recorded 23 deaths. Operative Information Center-OMM confirmed that the two dam failures alone caused 107 deaths and left 7 people missing.
Economic and Infrastructure Damage
Provincial officials estimate direct economic losses at about 14 billion yuan (? USD 2.0 billion). Damage includes destroyed farms, shops, zoos, and critical infrastructure such as roads and power lines.
Government Response and Recovery Plans
During post-disaster briefings in Nanning and Guigang, provincial leaders pledged to complete recovery within a year and to launch a three-year action plan aimed at strengthening flood-control and reservoir defenses. The plan calls for comprehensive engineering audits of aging hydro-electric and irrigation structures.
Broader Weather Context
China’s National Meteorological Centre has linked the severity of the July floods to a “brewing super El Niño” and ongoing global warming trends. After Maysak, the country experienced additional typhoons—Bavi, Noul, and Dolphin—though only Dolphin caused a single death and three missing persons in Zhejiang province. Authorities warned that a new system, Saudel, was located about 170 km from Hainan and could affect the mainland later in the week.
Timeline
- July 3 (scheduled): Forecasts indicated Typhoon Maysak would make landfall in Hainan province, with a second impact expected between Guangxi and Vietnam the following day.
- Early July: Historic, large-scale rainfall triggered widespread flooding and dam breaches across Guangxi.
- July 9 (occurred): Initial death toll reported as 39, with nine missing.
- Six weeks later: Authorities updated the toll to 159 deaths and 10 missing, reflecting a comprehensive casualty accounting after floodwaters receded.
What’s Next
Provincial officials intend to finalize the three-year flood-mitigation plan within the coming months and to begin upgrades to reservoir spillways and early-warning systems. The National Meteorological Centre continues to monitor tropical systems, emphasizing heightened vigilance through the anticipated strong El Niño winter.
