China's Maysak death toll surges to 39 with dam breach; gaps between early and final counts highlight reporting challenges

Tropical Storm Maysak killed 39 in southern China, with 26 deaths from a dam breach in Nanning announced Thursday. The toll more than doubled initial reports of six deaths, revealing how quickly the disaster's scope emerged as floodwaters receded and rescue teams accessed previously unreachable areas. The lag between provisional and final tallies typifies Chinese disaster coverage, where provincial briefings often provide fuller pictures than state media's early dispatches.