Typhoon Maysak Ravages China, Floods and Building Collapses in India, Storm Hits Tristan da Cunha

The first typhoon of the 2026 season to hit China, Maysak, has caused devastating damage in southern and central regions. In the Guangxi region, up to 280mm of rain fell in 12 hours, causing rivers to swell and dam walls to break. By Monday morning, flooding in the city of Nanning and surrounding areas had left many residents stranded on rooftops.

Floodwaters pose additional threats in China due to the presence of wild and farmed snakes. On Thursday, local media reported that hundreds of snakes, including cobras, had escaped from flooded breeding farms. Typhoon Maysak also contributed to the formation of two destructive tornadoes that swept across central China later Monday evening. This occurred when warm air from the south brought up by the typhoon collided with cold air in the north.

While authorities continue to verify the full extent of the damage, the official Xinhua news agency has reported at least 11 dead and 331 injured, as well as more than 4,855 houses damaged. This was the first recorded tornado in the central Hubei province since May 2021.

India also experienced heavy rainfall this week. On Sunday, parts of Mumbai received more than 300mm of rain, and a nearby site at Matheran recorded total rainfall of more than 850mm between Sunday and Wednesday. These four days of rain led to the collapse of buildings in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, killing at least 13 people. A three-storey chawl collapsed, killing five young children and one woman, according to local authorities. Although this is the peak of Mumbai's monsoon season, 300mm in 24 hours accounts for nearly 50% of July's entire average monthly rainfall.

Meanwhile, a notable winter storm hit the south Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha on Tuesday. Wind speeds of up to 124 mph were recorded at the amateur weather station at the island's school. Roofs were torn off several buildings, but no casualties were reported. Wind speeds are often amplified by the 2,000-meter-tall volcano that forms the island, creating downslope winds that compress and produce powerful gusts.