Storm Kajiki Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction in Southeast Asia
Storm Kajiki causes deadly floods and landslides in Vietnam and Thailand, killing at least eight.
Tropical Storm Kajiki’s aftermath unleashed devastating floods and landslides across Southeast Asia, claiming at least eight lives in Vietnam and Thailand.
In Vietnam, seven fatalities, one missing person, and 34 injuries were reported across northern and central provinces, where nearly 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain fell overnight, prompting ongoing flood warnings for riverside areas.
In Thailand, a landslide in Chiang Mai’s northern region killed one person, with another reported missing, while flash floods and landslides damaged numerous homes, according to Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Thailand’s Meteorological Department issued alerts for heavy rain in northern and northeastern regions, warning residents in foothills and low-lying areas of potential flash floods and landslides.
Kajiki, which made landfall in central Vietnam on Monday after impacting China’s Hainan Island, has exacerbated regional vulnerabilities. A 2024 study highlighted that climate change-driven warmer seas are causing Southeast Asia’s cyclones to form closer to land, intensify faster, and persist longer, heightening risks for urban areas.
Thousands were evacuated from high-risk zones in Vietnam, as authorities brace for further impacts from the storm’s relentless rainfall.
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