Vietnam is taking comprehensive measures, including shutting down airports, closing schools, and initiating mass evacuations, as it braces for Typhoon Kajiki, the most powerful storm of 2025 so far. The country's weather agency reported that Kajiki was approaching Vietnam's central coast with winds of up to 166 km/h and was expected to strengthen before making landfall on the afternoon of August 25.

The government issued a statement on August 24, describing Kajiki as an "extremely dangerous fast-moving storm" and warning of potential heavy rain, flooding, and landslides. As of midnight GMT, the storm was located 150 km off the central coast. The eye of the storm is predicted to hit the area between Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

Given its long coastline along the South China Sea, Vietnam is highly susceptible to powerful and often deadly storms that can cause dangerous flooding and mudslides. The authorities have ordered the evacuation of over half a million people and instructed all boats to remain in port.

Officials noted that Typhoon Kajiki is expected to be as powerful as Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the country less than a year ago. Typhoon Yagi, which struck in September 2024, resulted in an estimated 318 deaths in Vietnam and caused approximately US$3.3 billion in property damage.

Sources