The Chinese government has intensified emergency response efforts in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region following severe flooding caused by Typhoon Maysak. The storm, which struck over the weekend and weakened into a tropical depression by Monday, has led to the overtopping and breach of multiple reservoirs, prompting authorities to raise flood-control emergency levels and dispatch additional resources to the affected areas.

In Nanning, the regional capital, officials elevated the city’s flood-control emergency response from Level III to the highest Level I after the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs in Hengzhou experienced overtopping and dam breaches Monday morning. The Liuwang Reservoir in nearby Binyang County also overflowed, according to the Nanning Emergency Management Committee. These events have forced evacuations, with local authorities urging residents to move to safer locations and preparing teams to reinforce infrastructure and assess damage.

Residents downstream from the breached reservoirs have faced significant challenges. Lei Shuiping, living about a kilometer from Liulan Reservoir, reported that floodwaters had already submerged the first floor of her home by Monday morning. While electricity remained cut off, officials informed residents that power restoration was expected by Tuesday. She noted that daily supplies were sufficient, reducing immediate concerns.

The storm has brought intense rainfall across central and southern Guangxi since Saturday, causing water levels in 53 rivers to rise above warning thresholds, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. While Maysak’s wind intensity diminished, meteorologists caution that heavy rains are likely to continue through Tuesday due to the combination of the storm’s lingering circulation and the southwest monsoon.

In response to the escalating threat, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters increased Guangxi’s emergency response from Level III to Level II on Monday. The Ministry of Emergency Management sent a national working group to the region to support rescue operations and deployed two Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicles to aid in emergency communications and damage assessment.

The central government has allocated 100 million yuan (approximately $14.7 million) in emergency funds aimed at restoring critical infrastructure, including roads, water conservancy projects, schools, and hospitals. Rescue operations have been bolstered by the arrival of 350 professional rescuers from China Annenq Construction Group, equipped with specialized tools for communication, road clearance, and drainage. Additionally, 1,372 firefighters with 270 vehicles and 140 boats, along with the People’s Armed Police Force and other rescue teams, are engaged in evacuations and delivering aid to affected communities.

Meteorological expert Ye Menglong noted that despite the reduction in storm strength after landfall, Maysak’s well-preserved circulation combined with ongoing moisture from the southwest monsoon has resulted in persistent, heavy rainfall. Some parts of Guangxi reported record-high daily rainfall for July, underscoring the ongoing risk of flooding. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as recovery and relief operations proceed.