Over 600 000 evacuated, one dead as Typhoon Kajiki makes landfall in Vietnam

Typhoon Kajiki made landfall in central Vietnam between the coastline between Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh at approximately 15:00 LT on August 25, with sustained winds of up to 166 km/h (103 mph).

Kajiki was at category 2 hurricane equivalent strength at the time of landfall, with the minimum central pressure of 965 hPa. It is the only category 2 storm to make landfall in the province since Typhoon Charlotte in 1956.

The system brought intense rainfall, flooding, and severe wind damage across the region. As of 12:00 LT, one fatality was confirmed by local media—a resident electrocuted while securing a rooftop in Nghệ An province.

Flash flooding, landslides, and storm surges are expected to continue across the region for the next 24–48 hours as Kajiki weakens inland.

Nearly 600 000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas across at least seven provinces, including Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên–Huế, Đà Nẵng, and Quảng Ngãi.

The Vietnamese government deployed over 16 500 soldiers and 107 000 paramilitary personnel to support evacuation efforts, communication, and emergency shelter operations.

Rainfall accumulations of 200–300 mm (8–12 inches) have been recorded in lowland coastal areas, with orographic effects expected to increase totals in mountainous regions. Central provinces remain on high alert for landslides, especially in rural zones with unstable slopes.

Storm surge levels reached 3.5 m (11.5 feet) in parts of Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Bình, flooding coastal farmland and infrastructure. Preliminary damage estimates report over 2 300 homes unroofed or destroyed and power outages affecting 80 000 households.

All public transportation and maritime activity in affected areas was suspended. Airports in Thanh Hóa and Quảng Bình were closed, with dozens of commercial flights canceled. Coastal roads were barricaded to prevent non-essential movement. Over 60 000 boats were ordered to stay in port.

Kajiki is the fifth named tropical cyclone to impact Vietnam in 2025. Its rapid intensification is being compared to Typhoon Yagi in 2024, which struck the north-central region of Vietnam, killing more than 300 people and causing damage exceeding USD 3.3 billion.

In China, Kajiki prompted shutdowns and red alerts on Hainan Island, where schools and businesses were closed, and ferry and bus services were suspended.

The typhoon passed near Sanya, producing gusts of up to 242 km/h (150 mph) and 10-minute average winds of 164 km/h (102 mph) along the coast. It is the strongest typhoon recorded in Sanya’s meteorological history.

Chinese authorities evacuated thousands along the southern coast as the storm moved past the island. Alerts were later downgraded as Kajiki moved westward.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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