Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha announced on Monday that local authorities and relevant agencies in the country are on highest alert in preparation for the arrival of Typhoon Kajiki, the strongest storm Vietnam has witnessed this year. He directed police forces to ensure residents remain in their homes throughout the day.
The Vietnamese news agency reported that the Deputy Prime Minister chaired an emergency meeting, during which he stated that the "typhoon is strong and has complex developments," urging agencies and authorities to exercise full vigilance.
At the same time, he warned that heavy rains during and after the storm could lead to floods, flash floods, and landslides in low-lying areas.
Hong Ha emphasized that the focus must now be on rapid response to the storm, while also stressing the need for clear plans to identify the most high-risk areas, prepare personnel and equipment to deal with landslides, ensure smooth traffic flow, and be prepared for any emergency.
For its part, the Vietnam Meteorological Agency stated in a release that airports have been closed, schools suspended, and mass evacuations have begun. It explained that the typhoon is accompanied by winds reaching speeds of 166 kilometers per hour as it approaches central coastal Vietnam and is expected to strengthen before making landfall in the area between Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.
In the same context, the Vietnamese government announced that Typhoon Kajiki could be as powerful as Typhoon Yagi, which struck Vietnam less than a year ago, killing nearly 300 people and causing material losses amounting to 3.3 billion US dollars. Authorities announced on Sunday that over half a million people would be evacuated and ordered all boats to remain in ports.
Yesterday, Typhoon Kajiki passed near the southern coasts of China's Hainan Island, heading towards Vietnam. Vietnam, with its long coastline along the South China Sea, is frequently exposed to destructive typhoons that often cause severe floods and mudslides.