China’s Typhoon Maysak death toll soars to 159 as region tallies catastrophic losses

China's Typhoon Maysak has claimed more lives, with the death toll now at 159 according to updated figures released by authorities in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. This figure marks a significant increase from the previous 39 deaths reported six weeks ago. The typhoon, which made landfall in Hainan province on July 3, brought unprecedented rainfall to the southern part of the country, causing catastrophic damage.

Over 1.65 million people were affected by the disaster, with 10 individuals still missing. Nanning and Guigang, two cities in the region, have been particularly hard hit. In Nanning, 90 towns were affected, leading to the evacuation of 23,300 people and resulting in 136 fatalities, including 107 from dam collapses. Guigang saw 20,500 people evacuated, with 23 deaths reported.

The authorities have outlined plans for a year-long recovery, focusing on enhancing flood control and reservoir defenses. The delay in updating the death toll remains unclear. The typhoon's impact was far graver than initially anticipated, with breaches and floods reported at multiple reservoirs, including the infamous Liulan Reservoir.

Videos from the time show the disastrous consequences, with a man rescued from floodwaters using a drone. Beyond the reservoirs, zoos, farms, and shops suffered damage, and in a shocking incident, a woman died after over 900 snakes escaped from a breeding farm during the floods. Post-disaster conferences have revealed that the local government's response to emergencies, especially in extreme scenarios like this, has been questioned.

Leaders have called for a three-year action plan to bolster the region's readiness for such weather disasters. This comes after a string of extreme weather events in China this year, including typhoons Bavi, Noul, and Dolphin, which have all posed significant challenges to the country's disaster management capabilities.