Typhoon Kajiki Forces Mass Evacuation of Over 300,000 People in Vietnam

Unprecedented Storm Disrupts Life Between Hanoi and Da Nang as Authorities Scramble to Ensure Safety

In a sweeping emergency response that has dramatically altered daily life across Vietnam’s central and northern regions, more than 300,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Kajiki carves a destructive path through the country. The powerful storm, which meteorologists have been tracking with growing concern for several days, is currently moving across a vast stretch of Vietnam’s coastline between the capital city of Hanoi and the tourist destination of Da Nang, triggering what officials are calling one of the largest evacuation efforts in recent years.

Local authorities implemented the mandatory evacuation orders early Wednesday morning as Kajiki intensified, bringing with it sustained winds exceeding 120 kilometers per hour and torrential rainfall that has already caused significant flooding in low-lying areas. “We have been monitoring this weather system closely, and the decision to evacuate was not made lightly,” said Nguyen Van Minh, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister for Emergency Management, during a hastily arranged press conference in Hanoi. “The safety of our citizens remains our highest priority, and we are mobilizing all available resources to ensure that people in the affected areas are moved to secure locations before the worst of the storm arrives.” The evacuation zone spans approximately 400 kilometers of coastline and extends several kilometers inland in areas particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

Communities Mobilize as Storm’s Impact Begins to Be Felt

The evacuation process has transformed schools, government buildings, and community centers into temporary shelters across five provinces, with local officials reporting that the facilities are rapidly approaching capacity. In Hue, a historic city situated directly in Kajiki’s projected path, residents described scenes of organized urgency as neighbors helped one another board up windows and transport essential belongings to higher ground. “I’ve lived through many typhoons, but the authorities seem especially concerned about this one,” said Tran Thi Binh, a 67-year-old grandmother who was evacuated from her coastal home near Hue. “My neighbors and I left together—some to stay with relatives inland, others to the shelter at the secondary school. The community has come together remarkably well.”

Fishing communities have been particularly affected, with the government issuing strict orders for all vessels to return to port days ahead of the storm’s arrival. In Da Nang, Vietnam’s third-largest city and a major commercial hub, the normally bustling harbor has become a forest of masts as hundreds of fishing boats have sought refuge. “We’ve recalled every boat we could reach via radio,” explained Duong Van Hai, head of Da Nang’s Maritime Safety Authority. “Unfortunately, we still have approximately 40 vessels unaccounted for in sectors directly affected by the typhoon’s path. Coast guard units have been dispatched to assist any crews still at sea.” The economic impact on these fishing communities—many of which depend on daily catches for their livelihood—is expected to be severe, with industry representatives estimating losses could reach millions of dollars if the storm prevents normal operations for more than a week.

Infrastructure Challenges and Government Response Draw International Attention

Vietnam’s infrastructure is being severely tested by Typhoon Kajiki, with early reports indicating significant damage to roads, power lines, and communication networks in areas where the storm’s outer bands have already made landfall. In Quang Tri province, authorities reported that nearly 60% of households were without electricity by Wednesday evening, while several key bridges connecting coastal communities to evacuation routes have been compromised by rising floodwaters. “We are facing a complex emergency that requires a multifaceted response,” said Dr. Pham Van Loi, a disaster management expert at Vietnam National University. “The immediate concern is ensuring everyone reaches safety, but we’re already preparing for the recovery phase, which will require substantial resources to rebuild critical infrastructure.”

The Vietnamese government has allocated emergency funds totaling approximately $45 million USD for immediate disaster response, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh personally overseeing the coordination of military and civilian agencies involved in the evacuation and relief efforts. International organizations have also mobilized to provide support, with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction commending Vietnam’s proactive approach while standing by to offer assistance. “Vietnam has made significant improvements in its disaster preparedness systems since previous major typhoons,” noted Sofia Ramirez, the UN agency’s regional coordinator for Southeast Asia. “The early warning systems implemented over the past decade appear to be functioning effectively, potentially saving many lives through this timely evacuation.”

Climate Change Connections Raise Long-Term Concerns for Vietnam’s Coastal Regions

Environmental scientists monitoring Typhoon Kajiki have pointed to the storm as yet another indicator of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events affecting Vietnam’s 3,260-kilometer coastline. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, a climate researcher at the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, explained that sea surface temperatures in the South China Sea have been consistently above historical averages this year, providing ideal conditions for typhoon development and intensification. “What we’re observing with Kajiki aligns with climate model projections that predict Vietnam will face more powerful typhoons in the coming decades,” Dr. Tung said. “The government’s investment in early warning systems and evacuation protocols reflects an understanding that these events are not anomalies but rather a new normal requiring structural adaptation.”

For communities along Vietnam’s central coast, Kajiki represents more than just an immediate threat—it highlights the existential challenges facing regions where geography and climate vulnerability intersect with dense population centers and economic activity. Long-term climate adaptation strategies have become central to Vietnam’s national development plans, with the government committing over $2 billion USD through 2030 for infrastructure improvements specifically designed to mitigate typhoon and flooding impacts. These include the construction of sea walls, storm surge barriers, and elevated evacuation routes in high-risk areas. However, experts caution that engineering solutions alone may not be sufficient. “Some communities may ultimately need to consider managed retreat from the most vulnerable coastal areas,” suggested Dr. Tung. “This represents an enormous social and economic challenge that goes beyond physical infrastructure.”

Human Stories Emerge as Nation Braces for Recovery

As evacuation centers fill with displaced families, personal stories of resilience and concern have begun to emerge from those affected by Typhoon Kajiki. In a shelter near Hue, 34-year-old fisherman Nguyen Van Cuong described his family’s hurried departure from their coastal village. “We had about three hours to gather what we could—mostly documents, some clothing, and photographs of my parents,” he said, as his two young children played nearby. “Our boat is our livelihood, but we had to secure it and leave it behind. Now we wait and hope.” Many evacuees expressed similar sentiments—a mixture of anxiety about potential property damage balanced against gratitude for the warning time they received.

Healthcare workers have been deployed to all major evacuation centers, with special attention being paid to the needs of elderly evacuees and those with existing medical conditions. “We’re prepared for a potential increase in waterborne illnesses if flooding becomes widespread,” explained Dr. Mai Thi Huong, who is coordinating medical services at three shelters in Quang Tri province. “We’ve also implemented COVID-19 precautions, though that’s challenging in crowded shelter environments.” As Typhoon Kajiki continues its westward track across Vietnam in the coming days, authorities predict that some evacuees may need to remain displaced for up to two weeks, depending on flooding severity and the time required to restore essential services to affected areas. Despite the hardships, many communities are already planning for the work of rebuilding that lies ahead. “Vietnamese people have faced many storms before,” reflected Tran Thi Binh as she helped organize food distribution at her shelter. “We will face this one together, too.”