Kajiki is forecast to travel west-northwest at about 15-20 kph over the next three hours, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The storm is expected to be located in the waters from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh Provinces at 4:00 pm on Monday, packing winds of 118-149 kph and gusts of 167-183 kph.

Authorities have ordered mass evacuations and issued urgent warnings as the storm is expected to make landfall in the central region later in the day.

The national weather center said the system could be on the mainland of Thanh Hoa-Ha Tinh at 10:00 pm the same day, with winds of 75-88 kph and gusts of 118-133 kph.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired an emergency meeting on Monday morning at the Vietnamese government’s forward command post in Military Zone 4, located in Nghe An, urging the central provinces from Quang Tri to Thanh Hoa to complete evacuations by 11:00 am and ban residents from leaving their homes between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm the same day.

Storm impacts, evacuations

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, nearly 30,000 residents from Ninh Binh to Hue have been evacuated from high-risk areas.

Coastal dike systems are under severe threat, with 43 strategically-located ones identified, many designed only to withstand winds equivalent to level 9-10 storms.

Thanh Hoa Province alone evacuated 1,800 households from Nghi Son, Quang Xuong, and Sam Son, with more relocations underway in Hoang Hoa. 

Schools in Thanh Hoa have been closed for two days from Monday to Tuesday.

Authorities fear extensive flooding, landslides, and flash floods, with rainfall potentially exceeding 600 millimeters.

National emergency measures

Deputy PM Ha compared storm Kajiki’s intensity to typhoon Yagi in late 2024, warning that “level-four houses could collapse, and even high-rise buildings may sustain damage.”

He called on provinces to reinforce homes, relocate residents, and position rescue forces in mountainous areas vulnerable to landslides and flash floods.

Typhoon Yagi, the third storm to hit Vietnam in 2024 and the most powerful to strike the East Vietnam Sea in the past three decades, claimed the lives of hundreds of people in early September last year.

In Ha Tinh, six major reservoirs, including Song Rac and Boc Nguyen, opened floodgates to release water ahead of the storm. 

More than 14,000 residents in coastal communes such as Thien Cam, Dan Hai, and Ky Anh had been relocated as of 6:00 am on Monday.

Thanh Hoa established a forward command post in mountainous Hoi Xuan Commune to coordinate response in case of landslides and road closures. 

The province has mobilized 134 bulldozers and excavators, 101 vehicles, and nearly 600 personnel for emergency operations.

Why Kajiki remains powerful near landfall

The national weather agency said Kajiki has retained its intensity due to warm sea surface temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, low vertical wind shear, and minimal disruption from surrounding islands.

Forecast models from Vietnam, Japan, China, and Hong Kong all predict sustained winds of 134-166 kph at landfall, with gusts as high as 184 kph.

Local preparations, closures

In Ha Tinh’s Ky Anh Commune, residents used sandbags, ropes, and water-filled bags to secure roofs and storefronts. 

Shops closed early, streets emptied, and construction workers rushed to reinforce sites.

In Quang Tri, the provincial education authority announced that all students will stay home from Monday until weather conditions improve. 

Schools have been instructed to secure classrooms, cover equipment, and prepare staff for round-the-clock duty during the storm.