Vietnam Braces for Typhoon Kajiki, Tens of Thousands Evacuated
Hanoi, Vietnam – Tens of thousands of residents along Vietnam’s coastline facing the South China Sea have been ordered to evacuate as authorities prepare for Typhoon Kajiki, a fast-moving and dangerous storm with winds reaching 166 km/h (103 mph). Schools and airports in affected areas have been closed, and boats have been instructed to remain in port.
The Vietnamese government reported that about 30,000 people have already been evacuated, with plans to move more than half a million. Over 16,500 soldiers and 107,000 paramilitary personnel have been mobilized to assist with evacuations and potential search-and-rescue operations.
Kajiki is expected to make landfall Monday afternoon, bringing heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. Two airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh provinces have been closed, and dozens of flights by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have been canceled. Coastal authorities have banned ships from leaving port and are recalling vessels already at sea.
Vietnam, which is prone to deadly storms, has already recorded over 100 deaths or missing persons due to natural disasters in the first seven months of 2025. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion in damage.
In the city of Vinh, streets were largely deserted as residents sandbagged properties and sought shelter. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha warned that houses risk collapse and even high-rise buildings could suffer serious damage. Kajiki is projected to continue inland across Laos and northern Thailand.
Meanwhile, the southern coast of China’s Hainan Island experienced the storm on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of 20,000 residents, though the province has since downgraded its typhoon and emergency alerts.
