Vietnam has activated its highest level response in the face of the advance of Typhoon Kajiki, the fifth system of the season in the South China Sea, which is heading towards the north-central part of the country with winds up to 166 km/h and a potential of Torrential rains that could reach 700 l/m² in specific areas.
After crossing Hainan and moving through the Gulf of Tonkin, forecasts place the Possible impact between Thanh Hoa and Nghe An late in the day, with a tendency to weaken over land before continuing towards Laos and Thailand leaving very intense rainfall.
Expected impact and trajectory
Meteorological services indicate gusts that can reach 167 km/h and a displacement close to 20 km/h towards the west. The state of the sea is very adverse, with significant waves and dangerous swell, and rising sea levels capable of causing coastal flooding in exposed areas.
Authorities warn of a high risk of flash floods and landslides in valleys and hillsides, and recommend avoiding unnecessary travel. The population in areas under warning has been asked to stay home during critical hours while emergency teams work on prevention and response.
To sustain basic services, the Executive has ordered the main operators (such as Viettel and VNPT) urgently review its infrastructure in order to ensure communications and energy even in scenarios of structural damage and power outages.
In parallel, China has raised its alerts in the south of the country due to the effects of Kajiki in Hainan, with preventive evacuations, suspension of activities in Sanya and forecast of heavy rains of up to 400 mm in coastal sectors, in line with the system's west-northwestward movement pattern.
Emergency and mobilization operation
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed a package of highest level emergency measures to ensure the supply of food, water, essential products and electricity, in addition to maintaining operational communication networks from villages to large cities.
A massive deployment has been activated with 346.000 soldiers and 8.200 vehiclesIncluding Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, as well as reconnaissance drones for monitor vulnerable areas and support any rescue efforts.
Coordination meetings at the provincial level have reinforced the instruction of high alert and the preparation of search and rescue teams, with machinery and access routes ready to intervene when conditions permit.
Evacuations, transportation and ports
On the north-central coast, they have been evacuated 152.387 homes, which is almost 587.000 people relocated to safer areas or shelters, with priority for lowland areas and riverside communities.
Fishing is on suspended between Ninh Binh and Quang Ngai and has been notified to about 60.000 vessels (approximately 249.000 crew members), with More than 49.000 ships already in port. In Quang Tri and Thanh Hoa, maritime departures have been stopped due to storm surge and very high waves in the last hours.
The airline sector is experiencing disruptions: two airports in the center of the country have temporarily closed and Flights have been cancelled in Hue due to the storm. On land, several provinces have suspended classes and businesses and residents have protected facades with sandbags due to the risk of flooding and strong winds.
Hydrological and agricultural risks
The network of dams and reservoirs works with levels of 71-82% capacity, and they have open floodgates in a controlled manner to suppress flooding and reduce the risk of overflows and floods in sensitive basins.
In the countryside, the storm threatens 300.000 hectares of rice fields, plus 77.000 hectares of fruit trees y 57.000 of rubber, fearing damage to crops, loss of livestock and flooding of villages in the path of the cyclone.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warns of extremely dangerous conditions for activities such as tourism, transportation and aquaculture, so we ask you to be extremely cautious and continue official notices at all times.
With memories still fresh of the impact of other recent typhoons, the combination of strong winds, persistent rains and rough seas makes Kajiki a serious threat; the measures taken—from mass evacuations to mobilization of civilian and military resources— seek to minimize damage while monitoring every change in their trajectory.