Weather tracker: Typhoon leaves people stranded on rooftops in China | China
Maysak, the first typhoon to make landfall in China in the 2026 season, caused devastating damage in the southern and central regions. The Guangxi region suffered heavy downpours of up to 280 mm in 12 hours, causing rivers to swell and dam walls to break. On Monday morning, floods in Nanning city and surrounding areas left many residents stranded on rooftops.
Floodwaters pose additional threats in China due to the presence of wild and farm snakes. Local media reported on Thursday that hundreds of snakes, including cobras, had escaped from flooded breeding farms. Typhoon Maysak also helped develop two devastating hurricanes that ravaged central China later Monday evening. This event occurred as a result of the warm air from the south brought by Typhoon Maysak colliding with the cold air from the north.
While authorities continue to confirm the full extent of the damage, official state news agency Xinhua has already reported at least 11 dead and 331 injured, as well as more than 4,855 homes damaged. This was the first recorded hurricane to occur in the central Hubei region since May 2021.
India also experienced heavy rains this week; Parts of Mumbai received more than 300 mm of rainfall on Sunday, and nearby Matheran, just east of Mumbai, recorded a total of more than 850 mm of rainfall between Sunday and Wednesday. Four days of rain caused buildings in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs to collapse, killing at least 13 people. According to local authorities, a three-story roof collapsed, killing five young children and a woman. Despite Mumbai being at the peak of the monsoon season, the 300mm rainfall recorded in 24 hours is almost 50% of the entire monthly average rainfall for July.
Meanwhile, a notable winter storm hit the south Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha on Tuesday. Wind speeds of up to 194 kilometers per hour were recorded at the amateur meteorology station located at the school on the island. The roofs of many buildings were blown off, but there were no casualties. The 2000 meter high volcano that forms the island frequently increases wind speeds. The volcano creates winds known as downdrafts; These winds form when descending air on the leeward side of mountains compresses, resulting in strong winds.
