Thousands Evacuated and Flights Canceled as Typhoon Kajiki Hits Vietnam

Typhoon Kajiki made landfall on Vietnam’s north-central coast at about 3:00 p.m. local time on August 25, 2025, slamming Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri with sustained winds near 133 km/h and higher gusts offshore. Authorities ordered mass evacuations, moving more than 500,000 people from exposed coastal belts and low-lying areas. Airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh closed, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet canceled many flights, schools shut their doors, and early reports showed widespread flooding, uprooted trees, and downed power lines.

Officials described Kajiki as the most powerful storm to hit the country this year and warned hazards would continue after the eye passed inland.

Immediate government action and warnings

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued urgent directives for evacuation and disaster response. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha cautioned that “floods and landslides are sometimes more dangerous than storms,” urging communities to stay alert even when winds ease.

Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting described the system as very unusual because of its speed and intensity, and warned of long, soaking rain bands following the center inland.

Forecasters expect some areas to receive up to 40 centimeters of rain, with local downpours of 20 centimeters in just three hours. While officials reported no confirmed casualty figures from Typhoon Kajiki as of Monday afternoon, Vietnam recorded more than 100 people killed or missing from natural disasters in the first seven months of 2025 — a reminder of the dangers that come after landfall.

Evacuations, deployments, and closures

Evacuations focused on Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri. The military deployed more than 16,500 soldiers and about 107,000 paramilitary personnel to help with disaster response and relief. Schools closed across the impact zone, and businesses in Sanya, on China’s Hainan Island, also shut as the storm’s outer bands moved past.

Airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh suspended operations for safety, and both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet announced major cancellations. The closures stranded travelers and disrupted cargo.

Officials urged residents to:
– Stay indoors and avoid flooded roads and downed power lines.
– Follow local orders to move to higher ground.
– Remain in shelters until local authorities confirm it is safe to return.

Warning: Hazards continue after landfall — flash floods and landslides can be more dangerous than the wind itself. Stay alert even when winds begin to subside.

Government response and public safety measures

Authorities mobilized nationwide under the prime minister’s orders. Provincial leaders kept shelters open and issued instructions on when to evacuate and when to remain indoors. The government repeatedly emphasized vigilance after the storm’s center moved inland, echoing the deputy prime minister’s warning about flash floods and landslides.

At sea, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center measured gusts as high as 103 mph. Both the World Meteorological Center in Beijing and Vietnam’s forecasters expect Kajiki to weaken as it moves inland but still drop heavy rain over neighboring countries over the next several days.

Affected international and regional responses included:
– China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces ordering evacuations and business closures as the system brushed nearby coasts.
– Continued cross-border coordination between Chinese and Vietnamese authorities on evolving conditions.

Travel, consular guidance, and travel disruptions

Authorities advised that all non-essential travel be postponed while airports and roads remain affected. Travelers in impacted provinces should stay in secure buildings and wait for local official directions before moving. Airlines asked customers to check flight status prior to travel.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and local authorities issued weather alerts and safety instructions for U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals. For alerts, contact the embassy at https://vn.usembassy.gov and follow statements from the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority and Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Key public guidance shared Monday included:
1. Follow evacuation orders and move to designated shelters or higher ground.
2. Stay indoors during and after the storm; avoid flooded zones and downed power lines.
3. Postpone non-essential travel and check airline notices for cancellations or rebooking.
4. Monitor updates from Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and provincial authorities.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airport closures and repeated cancellations have stranded travelers across north-central Vietnam and increased pressure on logistics chains moving food and medical supplies into shelters.

Context and historical comparisons

Kajiki is the fifth tropical storm to affect Vietnam in 2025, arriving less than a year after Typhoon Yagi in 2024, which killed more than 300 people and caused about $3 billion in damage. Officials said the large mobilization of troops and early evacuations reflect lessons learned from past events.

Meteorologists warned:
– As Kajiki pushes inland, the wind threat will drop, but heavy rain will continue.
– Long periods of heavy showers can trigger flash floods and landslides, especially in mountainous areas.
– Bridges, culverts, and farm roads may remain cut for days, slowing evacuees’ return and delaying the restart of classes and work.

International observers drew parallels to Typhoon Yagi (2024) and cautioned that the region remains exposed to stronger tropical storms, with prolonged rain events driving flooding and landslides.

Forecasts and expected impacts

Kajiki made landfall around 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday with sustained winds near 133 km/h (about 82 mph), and forecasters recorded offshore gusts approaching 103 mph.

Forecast tracks showed:
– The storm weakening inland while sending heavy rain into Laos, northern Thailand, eastern Cambodia, and central Myanmar for several days.
– Embedded rain bands that can keep dumping rain on already waterlogged ground — a common cause of the worst damage after a storm’s center moves away.

Authorities prepared for large-scale relief and recovery operations, with military and emergency services on standby. Closure decisions for airports, schools, and businesses would be reviewed as conditions allow, but schools in affected provinces were set to remain closed until official safety assessments are finished.

Cross-border impacts and coordination

Authorities in China moved thousands of people to shelters in Hainan and Guangdong as Kajiki skirted the coast. In Sanya, businesses closed and public warnings were issued as seas rose and rain bands swept through. Cross-border coordination continued between Chinese and Vietnamese officials as both countries monitored impacts and adjusted responses.

Authorities emphasized continued readiness for relief and recovery, monitoring infrastructure damage and staging resources to support affected communities.