Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has killed 39 people in southern China, after days of intense rain breached reservoirs and pushed torrents of water through parts of Guangxi.
Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning, announced the updated death toll at a briefing on Thursday, July 9. The figure rose sharply from an earlier count of six, according to officials.
The hardest-hit area was Nanning, where Ding said a dam breach killed 26 people. About 130,000 people have been evacuated across the region as rescue teams try to reach residents cut off by fast-moving water, debris and damaged roads.
The national meteorological centre said parts of southern Guangxi received cumulative rainfall of 10cm to 40cm over several days, while the worst-hit areas recorded more than 90cm. More than 8,000 rescuers and about 5,700 boats have been sent into the operation, according to officials.
Ding said floodwaters were receding, but more rain was expected in some areas over the next two days. Crews have begun clearing mud and debris, disinfecting towns in hard-hit Hengzhou city and repairing roads. Electricity has been restored to more than 60,000 homes, he said.
The flooding also damaged enclosures at Guigang Zoo, allowing at least 100 animals to escape, including alpacas, miniature pigs and zebras. A local Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau statement said missing animals included “two North American raccoons, four porcupines and thirty peacocks”.
The zoo appealed for public help but urged residents not to approach the animals. “If you spot any of the animals, please keep a safe distance,” the statement said. “Do not attempt to catch, approach or tease them, as this could be dangerous.”
