Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki slams Vietnam

Vietnam has been hit by Typhoon Kajiki, a powerful storm that brought destructive winds, heavy rains, and widespread damage along the country’s central coastline. Authorities ordered close to 600,000 people to evacuate their homes as the storm approached, with schools and airports shut down in preparation. The typhoon made landfall in Ha Tinh province on Monday afternoon, packing winds of up to 133 km/h. Strong gusts tore roofs from houses, uprooted trees, and flooded roads, leaving many residents frightened.

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In Nghe An province, one evacuee described seeing waves as tall as two metres and water flooding the streets. “It’s terrifying,” he told Reuters. Others in Vinh city said they had never experienced a storm of such scale. The government placed 400 communes across six provinces on alert for possible flash floods and landslides, while train services and flights in the central region were suspended.

The storm had earlier brushed past southern China, causing damage to infrastructure and disrupting water supplies. Although meteorologists later said Kajiki had weakened slightly after landfall, its winds remained strong and dangerous. Officials warned that it could still be the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam this year.The impact of Typhoon Kajiki is a reminder of the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather. Meteorologists warned that warming global temperatures may contribute to stronger typhoons, with higher wind speeds and heavier rainfall. While it is difficult to link any single storm directly to climate change, experts say the trend points toward more destructive events in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is still recovering from Typhoon Yagi, which struck less than a year ago and was described as the country’s strongest storm in three decades. Yagi left 300 people dead in Vietnam and caused catastrophic damage across several Southeast Asian nations, killing more than 500 people in total. It left 1.5 million Vietnamese without electricity and caused billions of dollars in losses.

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Residents in Kajiki’s path expressed fear but also resignation. “We have to accept it because it’s nature  we cannot do anything,” said 66-year-old Le Manh Tung. Tens of thousands have taken shelter in evacuation centres, where families are waiting out the storm on mats and blankets.

As Kajiki continues to move inland, authorities remain on high alert for floods and landslides. The storm has highlighted the country’s vulnerability to increasingly severe weather patterns in the region.