‘It’s terrifying’: Thousands evacuate as typhoon batters Vietnam

A powerful typhoon has struck Vietnam’s central coastal provinces, unleashing destructive winds and heavy rainfall that tore roofs from houses, uprooted trees, and inundated roads.

The storm, named Typhoon Kajiki, made landfall on Monday afternoon in Ha Tinh province with winds between 118 and 133 km/h (73–82 mph), according to Vietnam’s meteorological centre. Authorities had earlier warned it could be the strongest storm to hit the country this year.

Mass Evacuations and Closures

In preparation, nearly 600,000 residents were ordered to evacuate from vulnerable areas, particularly in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An provinces.

Flights at two central-region airports and several train services were suspended, while schools were closed as the storm bore down on coastal areas.

Local authorities also placed more than 400 communes across six provinces on high alert due to the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Residents Describe “Terrifying” Conditions

In Nghe An province, residents reported waves rising up to two metres, with water rushing onto roads. One evacuee told Reuters the scene was “terrifying.”

“I have never heard of a typhoon of this big scale coming to our city,” said 66-year-old Le Manh Tung from Vinh. “I am a bit scared, but then we have to accept it because it’s nature — we cannot do anything.”

Another resident, 48-year-old Dang Xuan Phuong, also from Nghe An, confirmed seeing the towering waves crashing near coastal communities.

Across affected regions, evacuation centres quickly filled with families seeking shelter. Images from Nghe An showed elderly residents wrapped in blankets on shelter floors, waiting for the storm to subside.

Regional Impact and Comparisons

Before hitting Vietnam, Typhoon Kajiki had swept past southern China, damaging roads, disrupting water supplies, and battering infrastructure.

Its arrival comes less than a year after Typhoon Yagi — the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in three decades — devastated the country in September 2024. Yagi left 300 dead in Vietnam, caused billions in damage, and plunged 1.5 million people into darkness. Across Southeast Asia, including Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar, the storm killed more than 500 people.

Climate Concerns

Meteorologists warn that rising global temperatures are intensifying tropical storms, making them more destructive. Warmer oceans provide additional energy, increasing the likelihood of stronger winds and heavier rainfall. However, experts caution that directly linking individual storms to climate change remains complex.

Outlook

Although Typhoon Kajiki weakened slightly after making landfall, Vietnam’s weather authority continues to warn of dangerous conditions, particularly flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas. Authorities are urging residents not to return home until conditions are declared safe.

As the nation recovers from one of its most powerful storms in recent years, officials fear the frequency and intensity of typhoons may increase, posing an ongoing challenge to Vietnam’s disaster preparedness and coastal resilience.