Typhoon Kajiki to Hit Thailand After Making Landfall in Vietnam

Typhoon Kajiki slammed into Vietnam on Monday, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rain across the Asian country. Here is the latest on this monster storm.

Typhoon Kajiki Churns Across China and Southeast Asia

Almost 600,000 people were ordered to evacuate ahead of Typhoon Kajiki's landfall in the northeastern corner of the country of Vietnam on Monday. The storm came onto land in the coastal province of Ha Tinh on Monday afternoon. Evacuations were also in effect for parts of the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Da Nang. The point of landfall is located approximately 100 miles from Hanoi.

At least one fatality had been confirmed as a result of Kajiki by the time that the sun went down on Monday. As of Tuesday morning, four deaths were reported.

Winds of over 80 mph swept through the region, forcing the suspension of flights at two airports as well as train service throughout the region.

Kajiki first started making headlines when it churned over the Philippines as a tropical depression on August 22. The storm then went on to intensify as it moved over the warm waters of the South China Sea. Kajiki moved past China's Hainan Island and into areas of southern China on Sunday evening.

Hainan Island is known for its luxury resorts, long stretches of sandy beaches, and duty-free shopping. The city of Sanya on the island was forced to close its popular tourist attractions as the storm brushed past the area.

Sanya city officials issued a red typhoon alert earlier in the day on Sunday. This is the highest level of warning in China's color-coded system. While the alert was downgraded on Monday, the island still experienced torrential downpours and gusty conditions throughout the day.

Kajiki recorded top wind speeds of 103 mph as it roared across the Gulf of Tonkin overnight Sunday and into Monday. This is equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.

Vietnam has been in the crosshairs of several typhoons this year. Kajiki is the fifth storm of this magnitude to impact the country.

Local officials are comparing this storm to Typhoon Yagi of 2024. As the most powerful storm to strike the nation last year, Yagi was blamed for the deaths of about 300 people after it made landfall at the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. Although Kajiki is weaker than Yagi, the storm is still bringing in a great deal of moisture and high winds.

In addition to the closure of two airports, schools in the impacted provinces have also been ordered to close for two days. Emergency measures were activated on Sunday to facilitate the evacuation of those in the path. Fishing vessels were prohibited from leaving the shoreline as the storm approached.

The government mobilized over 300,000 military personnel to help with the impending recovery efforts. The most pressing issues include high storm surge, heavy rain, and high winds.

This is part of Vietnam that is known for its agricultural interests. Local officials are growing more concerned about the potential destruction of crops and livestock.

What is Next for Kajiki?

Local officials in Thailand issued weather warnings to 58 different provinces as the typhoon inched closer to this part of Southeast Asia. Meteorologists in Thailand are warning that flash flooding and landslides are a likelihood in the hours ahead.

The storm is also forecast to significantly impact Laos as it moves farther inland. The threat of lash flooding and mudslides will increase as Kajiki moves in this direction. Rainfall amounts of up to 15 inches are in the forecast for this region.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts that Kajiki will weaken quickly as it moves over land. There is a good chance that Kajiki will be downgraded to a tropical depression by Tuesday morning.

Unlike the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts for half of the year, the typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific Ocean persists all year long. The peak of the activity happens in the late summer months in this part of the basin. Typhoon Kajiki is the region's 14th named storm of the year.

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