Vietnam is preparing for Typhoon Kajiki, a fast-moving storm expected to hit the country’s central coast with winds of up to 166 km/h (103 mph) and heavy rains. Authorities have ordered more than 500,000 people to evacuate from vulnerable coastal areas to avoid flooding and landslides.
The government has mobilized 16,500 soldiers and 107,000 paramilitary personnel to assist with evacuations, search and rescue, and disaster response. Airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh provinces have been closed, and dozens of flights canceled. Coastal ships have been instructed to stay in port, and those already at sea have been recalled.
“This is an extremely dangerous fast-moving storm,” the Vietnamese government said, warning of heavy rains, floods, and landslides. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said even high-rise buildings and homes are at risk of serious damage.
Residents in the waterfront city of Vinh have been evacuating and sandbagging their homes. Le Manh Tung, 66, said, “I am a bit scared, but we have to accept it because it’s nature – we cannot do anything.”
Typhoon Kajiki has already hit southern Hainan Island in China, where 20,000 residents were evacuated. The storm is projected to move inland across Laos and northern Thailand, bringing more heavy rain.
Vietnam is no stranger to deadly storms. In the first seven months of 2025, over 100 people were killed or went missing due to natural disasters. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion in damage.
Authorities continue to urge residents to follow evacuation orders and stay in safe shelters as the country braces for one of its strongest typhoons of the year.
