Typhoon Kajiki unleashed powerful winds and torrential rain across southern China’s Hainan Island and parts of Guangdong province on Sunday, as it churned over the South China Sea, heading toward Vietnam’s central coast. With maximum sustained winds reaching 162 km/h (100 mph), the storm prompted widespread preparations in both countries, with forecasts warning of severe impacts.
In Hainan, approximately 20,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, while over 21,000 fishing crew members returned to shore as boats were secured in ports. Sanya, a renowned beach resort destination that welcomed 34 million tourists last year, issued a red typhoon alert—the highest level in China’s warning system—and escalated its emergency response to the most severe level.
Businesses, tourist attractions, public transport, and shipping operations were halted, with authorities urging residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Rainfall of 25-40 cm (10-16 inches) was predicted for southern Hainan, raising concerns about flooding and infrastructure damage.
Guangdong’s coastal areas, including the Leizhou Peninsula and cities like Maoming, Yangjiang, and Jiangmen, braced for heavy rain and strong winds through Monday. A video shared by Guangdong Radio and Television captured the storm’s ferocity, showing tree branches snapping and waves crashing over piers. Hainan’s flood control committee upgraded its emergency response to Level II, while Guangdong activated a Level IV response to manage the escalating threat.
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In Vietnam, authorities planned to evacuate over 586,000 people from central provinces like Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Danang, where Kajiki is expected to make landfall early Monday with winds potentially strengthening to 170 km/h (110 mph). Seven coastal provinces banned boats from leaving shore, and Vietnam Airlines canceled at least 22 flights, with Vietjet Aviation also reporting cancellations and delays.
Farmers in Hue rushed to harvest rice crops to mitigate losses, while officials reinforced dykes, reservoirs, and irrigation systems to combat potential flooding. The Vietnamese government compared Kajiki’s strength to Typhoon Yagi, which killed 300 people and caused $3.3 billion in damages less than a year ago.
Social media posts on X highlighted Kajiki’s rapid intensification, with experts noting its potential to become a rare Category 4 typhoon in the South China Sea due to warm sea surface temperatures (29-30°C) and low wind shear. The storm’s path may skirt Hainan’s southern coast before striking Vietnam between Thanh Hóa and Quảng Trị provinces, with some areas expecting 200-700 mm of rain, increasing risks of flash floods and landslides.
Kajiki, named after the Japanese word for spearfish or swordfish, marks the fifth typhoon in the South China Sea this year. The region remains on high alert, with northern Thailand also preparing for heavy rains and potential flash floods as the storm’s remnants are expected to weaken into a tropical depression by Tuesday.
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