At least 15 killed, 9 missing as storm batters China

Thunderstorms and strong winds have killed at least 15 people and injured 275 in central China, state media said Tuesday (July 7, 2026), as leader Xi Jinping called for “all out” rescue efforts.

The central province of Hubei was hit by “severe convective weather” that left 11 people dead and one missing, state news agency Xinhua said.

Four more people died and eight are missing in the southern region of Guangxi, which has also been hit by extreme weather, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Multiple areas in Hubei province experienced “severe convective weather” on Monday (July 6, 2026), state broadcaster CCTV reported.

“Thunderstorms and strong winds swept” through cities including Huangshi and Huanggang, it added.

Tornadoes were reported in some areas, and one person is missing.

The “severe weather” had injured 275 people in Huanggang’s Huangzhou district as of Tuesday (July 7, 2026) morning, state news agency Xinhua reported, without giving details of their severity.

Authorities also evacuated 408 residents to safe areas, it added.

“Rescue and relief efforts are underway,” Xinhua said.

Heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak killed at least two people in the southern region of Guangxi, and prompted authorities to evacuate at least 48,000 people as of Monday (July 6, 2026), evening.

Officials in Nanning, Guangxi’s capital, raised the flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams.

Rain caused the walls of a reservoir dam to burst, with dramatic video shared by CCTV showing a torrent of muddy water rushing the crumbled concrete.

Homes and cars elsewhere in the region were partially submerged, it showed.

Rescue workers were seen wearing life vests and helmets, while others were on inflatable boats searching for people.