Vietnam evacuated more than 325,000 people from its coastal provinces as Typhoon Kajiki approached with winds of 140 km/h. Authorities set up temporary shelters in schools and public buildings.
Scientists warn that climate change is making storms more severe, leaving millions more vulnerable in the region.
Mass Evacuations & Emergency Response
The government said over 325,500 residents in five coastal provinces were ordered to leave their homes. Schools and public buildings were turned into shelters to house families. Nearly 30,000 people had been moved by Monday morning, while 16,000 soldiers were mobilised to assist.
Officials also closed two domestic airports. Fishing boats returned to harbour as waves in the Gulf of Tonkin reached nearly 10 metres. More than a dozen domestic flights were cancelled, cutting off air travel across the affected region.
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City on Alert
The waterfront city of Vinh was heavily flooded overnight. Streets were almost empty, and most businesses remained closed. Shops and restaurants lined their entrances with sandbags.
“I have never heard of a typhoon of this scale coming to our city,” said 66-year-old Le Manh Tung, who took shelter at a sports stadium in Vinh. Families there shared simple breakfasts of sticky rice as they prepared to wait out the storm.
Another evacuee, Nguyen Thi Nhan, added: “Normally we get storms and flooding, but never this big.”
Climate Change Adds to the Crisis
According to scientists, Global warming is the reason for storms like Kajiki. Tropical cyclones get their energy from rising ocean temperatures, which further amplifies their destructive potential.
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In just the first seven months of 2025, more than 100 people in Vietnam died or went missing in natural disasters. The agriculture ministry said the losses reached $21 million. Last year, Typhoon Yagi caused over $3.3 billion in damages and hundreds of deaths.
Wider Impact Beyond Vietnam
Kajiki also affected China’s Hainan island, where about 20,000 people were evacuated. The island’s main city, Sanya, closed tourist spots and suspended business operations.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said the storm is likely to weaken once it makes landfall due to lower ocean heat content. Still, Vietnamese officials remain cautious.
Preparing for the Future
Kajiki is the fifth typhoon to hit Vietnam this year, serving as a reminder of how frequently these disasters occur. Experts warn that if disaster planning and climate adaptation are not improved, subsequent storms may inflict far more harm.
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