China rescues flood victims as death toll hits 17

Rescue operations continued across China on Wednesday following a series of severe weather events that have killed at least 17 people, injured hundreds, and forced the evacuation of over 130,000 residents. The disasters, which include widespread flooding from a typhoon, rare tornadoes, and a separate landslide, have stretched emergency response systems as officials warn of continued heavy rainfall and the approach of a powerful super typhoon.

In the southern region of Guangxi, Typhoon Maysak triggered catastrophic flooding, resulting in at least six fatalities. Fast-flowing water breached the banks of dozens of rivers and caused a reservoir dam to burst, damaging nearly 13,000 acres of agricultural land. Regional officials said approximately 130,000 people were moved to safety. One hotel employee in Guigang city described water levels rising to the height of a one-storey house over two days, with significant standing water remaining in low-lying areas. Authorities have dispatched additional disaster relief supplies, including food and rubber boats, and have maintained the second-highest level for flood-control emergency response.

A highly unusual consequence of the flooding in...