Vietnam has evacuated more than 325,000 people across its central provinces as Typhoon Kajiki intensifies in the South China Sea and moves closer to the country’s coastline. The storm, currently classified as a Category 2 typhoon, is expected to make landfall late Monday between the coastal provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, with wind speeds reaching up to 166 kilometers per hour and widespread torrential rainfall forecast. The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control confirmed the evacuations, which span five central and northern provinces including Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, and Ha Tinh.
Residents were relocated to designated shelters such as schools, administrative buildings, and community centers. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has warned that Typhoon Kajiki presents a significant threat to both lives and critical infrastructure, particularly in low-lying coastal areas and river deltas. More than 16,500 soldiers and over 107,000 paramilitary personnel have been mobilized nationwide to assist with evacuation efforts and emergency response preparations. Local authorities have reinforced embankments, secured aquaculture farms, and deployed emergency equipment to areas most likely to be impacted.
Rescue teams have been stationed in strategic locations, and helicopters are on standby for aerial reconnaissance and relief operations following landfall. Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority suspended dozens of domestic flights in anticipation of the storm. Airports in Quang Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces were temporarily closed, and operations at other central airports have been scaled down. National carriers including Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have issued advisories for passengers and will continue monitoring developments in coordination with weather authorities.
Vietnam braces for strongest storm of the year
All maritime activities in central provinces have been halted. Fishing vessels were ordered to return to shore over the weekend, and port authorities suspended both commercial and passenger ship services. Thousands of boats are docked in safe harbors, and border guard units are assisting in enforcing no-sail orders. Heavy rainfall from Kajiki is expected to impact a large region from northern Vietnam through the central highlands. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and severe flooding in urban and agricultural zones.
Water levels in major rivers including the Ma and Gianh are predicted to rise sharply, increasing the risk to farmland and infrastructure. Approximately 430,000 hectares of rice paddies and cash crops are under threat from saltwater intrusion and prolonged submersion. In neighboring China, authorities in Hainan Province have taken precautionary steps as Kajiki brushed past its southern coastline. Around 20,000 residents were evacuated in Sanya and other coastal towns. Public transportation and port operations were suspended, and schools and government offices closed temporarily.
Public urged to follow safety orders and shelter indoors
Although the storm has since shifted westward toward Vietnam, the China Meteorological Administration remains on alert for continued heavy rainfall and residual storm surges. Vietnam, which frequently experiences typhoons during the June to November storm season, has invested in early-warning systems and disaster preparedness protocols following deadly storms in previous years. The country recorded 11 tropical storms in 2023, several of which caused severe flooding and economic disruption in the central region. Typhoon Kajiki is the most powerful system to threaten Vietnam in 2025 to date.
Meteorological agencies across Southeast Asia are monitoring Kajiki’s trajectory as it nears landfall. The Vietnamese government has urged citizens to remain indoors, follow official guidance, and stay updated through state-run media. Relief agencies have been placed on high alert to provide emergency supplies and medical assistance once the storm passes. The Ministry of Information and Communications has directed all telecom operators to maintain network stability and emergency broadcast systems during the storm. Power companies are also on standby to restore electricity in the event of outages. – By Content Syndication Services.