A powerful typhoon, currently classified as Category 12-13 with gusts reaching Category 16, is intensifying and moving at a reduced pace towards Vietnam's coast. This slow movement, approximately 15 km/h, allows the storm to gather more energy, increasing its potential for further strengthening.
The Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has issued severe weather advisories. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed urgent preparedness measures across affected provinces. Extensive rainfall is anticipated across a broad swathe of the country, including the northern plains, southern Phu Tho, and extending from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue. Certain areas, particularly Thanh Hoa and Hue, could experience rainfall exceeding 200mm within a three-hour period, raising significant concerns about rapid and severe flooding.
Coastal regions from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh are already facing strong winds, with speeds of level 6-7 and gusts up to level 8. Inland areas from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri are bracing for winds of level 7-9. The storm's eye is expected to bring winds of level 10-12 and gusts up to level 14-15. Authorities are implementing comprehensive evacuation plans, with over 586,000 people slated for relocation from central provinces including Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Danang. Seven coastal provinces have banned boats from leaving shore, and national carriers have cancelled numerous flights to and from central cities.
The Vietnam People's Army has been placed on high alert, with troops deployed to support evacuations and reinforce infrastructure. Viettel, a telecom group, has prepared mobile teams and drones for surveying vulnerable areas and maintaining communication. Typhoon Kajiki is the fifth storm to impact the East Sea this year, and its rapid intensification is attributed to favorable conditions such as warm sea surface temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and abundant moisture. International forecasting centers estimate the storm may reach Category 15 strength with extreme gusts.
The storm's projected landfall is between Thanh Hoa and northern Quang Tri. For instance, Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 caused catastrophic damage, with government reports estimating property damages of approximately US$3.45 billion and over 300 deaths and disappearances, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in Vietnamese history. Residents are strongly advised to stay informed through local media and weather forecasts, adhere to all official instructions, and implement necessary safety measures to mitigate the risks associated with this severe weather event. The storm's wide circulation is expected to trigger widespread rainfall across the north-central and northern regions, with some localities potentially receiving up to 700 millimeters of rain, significantly increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous and low-lying areas.