Typhoon Kajiki has swept across Southeast Asia, leaving a trail of devastation in Vietnam and parts of Thailand, with at least eight people confirmed dead and thousands displaced.
Heavy Toll in Vietnam
Vietnam has borne the brunt of the storm. Authorities reported seven fatalities and dozens of injuries, as torrential rains and gale-force winds tore through communities. Floodwaters inundated more than 10,000 homes and offices, while nearly 28,800 hectares of rice fields were submerged, raising fears of major agricultural losses.
The storm uprooted 18,000 trees and toppled 331 power poles, cutting electricity in several provinces. Urban centers, including Hanoi, saw streets submerged, vehicles stranded, and widespread disruption even as the capital prepares for next week’s National Day parade.
Emergency services evacuated almost 600,000 residents from vulnerable areas. The government deployed 16,500 soldiers and more than 100,000 paramilitary personnel to support relief operations. Airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Tri provinces were closed, schools shut, and dozens of flights canceled.
Thailand Also Hit
Kajiki’s remnants triggered heavy rains and mudslides across northern Thailand, where at least one person died and more than a dozen were injured. Several communities remain cut off due to landslides, with rescue teams racing against time to locate the missing.
Risk of Further Flooding
Authorities in both countries have warned of continuing dangers from flash floods and landslides as rain is expected to persist. Flood and landslide alerts remain in effect across multiple provinces.
Climate Change Connection
Meteorologists note that Kajiki intensified unusually fast and made landfall with destructive force a pattern increasingly linked to climate change and warming seas. Experts warn that such storms, forming closer to land and striking with greater intensity, may become the new norm in the region.