Weather Typhoon Kajiki Hits Vietnam: Torrential Rains and Evacuations

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Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Vietnam is grappling with the devastating impact of Typhoon Kajiki, which battered the north-central coast on Monday. This fierce storm has uprooted trees, inundated homes, and caused widespread disruption across the region.

 

As of midday, Kajiki was positioned over the coastal provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, with winds decreasing to 118-133 km/h, down from their peak of 166 km/h earlier in the day, according to Vietnam's meteorological agency.

 

"This is terrifying," expressed Dang Xuan Phuong, a resident of Cua Lo, a tourist hub in Nghe An province. "From the higher floors, waves reach up to two metres, and roads around us are submerged," he shared with Reuters.

 

State media reports indicated widespread power outages in parts of Ha Tinh province, with roofs torn off and fishing farms swept away, painting a grim picture of the storm's aftermath.

 

In anticipation of what was deemed the year's most formidable storm, Vietnam pre-emptively closed airports, schools, and began large-scale evacuations. Authorities described Kajiki as "an extremely dangerous fast-moving storm," forecasting heavy rains, flooding, and landslides.

 

With its extensive coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam remains vulnerable to such storms, which can provoke deadly flooding and mudslides. The Vietnamese weather agency warned of potential rainfall reaching up to 500 millimetres from Monday afternoon until Tuesday evening in parts of the north.

 

By Monday morning, approximately 30,000 residents had been evacuated from coastal areas. A force of over 16,500 soldiers and 107,000 paramilitary personnel had been mobilised, ready to assist in evacuations, search, and rescue operations.

 

Air travel was severely affected with the closure of airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh provinces, as reported by the Civil Aviation Authority. Both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet cancelled numerous flights to and from the region.

 

The storm had earlier skirted China's Hainan Island, causing disruptions in Sanya City, where businesses and public transport were temporarily shut down. By Monday, China's southern province had downgraded its emergency alerts but cautioned about ongoing heavy rains.

 

Local reports highlighted that in Sanya, many residents sought refuge in underground garages. Large trees were toppled, leaving streets scattered with debris by Monday morning.

 

China's transport ministry has warned of potential secondary disasters, urging continued vigilance across several regions, including the southwest provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangxi, extending even to the northeastern provinces near Korea.

 

In Hanoi, the Chinese embassy advised Chinese nationals to stay alert, prepare for gusty winds and intense rainfall, and prioritise safety.

 

As Vietnam confronts the fallout of Typhoon Kajiki, it underscores the persistent threat of such natural disasters in the region, highlighting the need for robust preparedness and rapid response efforts.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-08-26