China Storms Kill 15, Force Mass Evacuations as Xi Orders Rescue Efforts

At least 15 people have died and hundreds have been injured after powerful storms battered parts of China, triggering widespread flooding, mass evacuations and rescue operations.

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday ordered authorities to go “all out” in search and relief efforts as severe weather continued to lash several provinces.

State broadcaster CCTV aired dramatic footage showing muddy floodwaters surging through southern Guangxi after a reservoir dam collapsed. Rescue workers in life jackets used inflatable boats to search for missing residents, while emergency shelters were set up for thousands forced to flee their homes.

FLOODS, STRONG WINDS LEAVE 15 DEAD

Typhoon Maysak brought torrential rain and severe flooding to the southern Guangxi region, killing at least four people. Authorities raised the flood-control emergency response to its highest level in the regional capital, Nanning, as floodwaters inundated large areas.

More than 50,000 people were evacuated from affected areas, while eight people remain missing.

Meanwhile, thunderstorms and gale-force winds claimed 11 lives in the central province of Hubei and left 331 people injured, according to state news agency Xinhua. One person is still missing, while nearly 4,800 houses were damaged and 22 buildings collapsed.

One resident from Huanggang city described the destructive force of the storm after his brother-in-law was reportedly swept out of his home by powerful winds.

“Wall cabinets, sofas, coffee tables, dining tables and chairs vanished in an instant. It was as if the entire building had been hollowed out,” he told local media.

SNAKE FARM WASHED AWAY

The flooding in Guangxi also swept away a snake-breeding farm, allowing an estimated 800 to 900 snakes to escape into nearby floodwaters.

Videos showing residents trying to catch snakes wading through flooded streets quickly spread across Chinese social media, with related hashtags drawing millions of views.

XI ORDERS ‘ALL-OUT’ RESCUE

As the disaster unfolded, President Xi Jinping instructed authorities to spare no effort in rescue and relief operations.

According to CCTV, Xi urged emergency responders to “go all out” in rescuing those trapped, relocating affected residents and minimising further casualties.

China’s Water Resources Minister Li Guoying warned that heavy rain would continue across parts of Guangxi and neighbouring Guangdong on Wednesday, with river levels expected to rise well above danger marks.

He cautioned that prolonged flooding was placing enormous pressure on reservoirs and embankments across the affected regions.

LANDSLIDE IN GANSU KILLS FIVE

In a separate incident, a landslide struck a village near Longnan city in northwestern Gansu province, killing five people and leaving 12 others missing, Xinhua reported.

Rescue teams initially located 21 trapped residents, but five later died despite emergency medical treatment. Authorities have allocated 30 million yuan (about $4.4 million) for reconstruction and relief efforts.

China frequently experiences floods, typhoons and landslides during the summer monsoon season. Scientists have warned that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, posing growing challenges for disaster management across the country.