Heavy rainfall battered parts of Southeast Asia on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Kajiki made landfall in central Vietnam, flooding streets in Hanoi, toppling power lines, and triggering widespread evacuations. The storm, now downgraded to a tropical depression over Laos, left a trail of destruction, with forecasts predicting continued rain across Thailand and northern Cambodia.
Vietnam’s government mobilized extensive resources to mitigate the storm’s impact, planning to evacuate nearly 600,000 people from high-risk zones in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Danang provinces. Over 152,000 homes were identified as vulnerable to flooding and landslides. The operation involved 16,500 soldiers and 107,000 paramilitary personnel, who assisted with evacuations and remained on standby for search-and-rescue missions, according to state media.
Kajiki struck Vietnam’s central coast with sustained winds of 117 kph (73 mph), uprooting trees, tearing off building roofs, and destroying billboards. Coastal areas in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces faced severe flooding due to high tides coinciding with the storm’s arrival on Monday afternoon. Hanoi reported inundated streets, with vehicles navigating through knee-deep water in several districts. Two airports in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh remained closed Tuesday, stranding travelers after flights were grounded the previous day.
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The storm claimed one life in Vietnam—a man electrocuted while securing his home on Friday. Earlier, Kajiki brought heavy rain and strong winds to China’s Hainan Island, disrupting local infrastructure.
A 2024 scientific study warned that climate change is intensifying Southeast Asia’s cyclones, causing them to form closer to coastlines, strengthen rapidly, and persist longer, posing greater threats to urban areas. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant as the region braces for further rainfall and potential flash floods.
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