Typhoon Kajiki, the 13th named storm of the year, is barreling toward Vietnam's central coast with sustained winds of 42 meters per second, prompting urgent preparedness measures across the region. The storm's center was last tracked 185 km east of Vinh City, moving west-northwest at 15-20 km/h, according to meteorological authorities.
Critical Landfall Window
The Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts Kajiki will make landfall between Vinh City and Ha Tinh province from evening through late Thursday night. While currently maintaining severe typhoon status (Category 3 equivalent), forecasters expect rapid weakening post-landfall due to Vietnam's mountainous terrain.
Regional Impacts
Coastal communities are bracing for:
Storm surges up to 4 meters
300-400 mm rainfall accumulations
Widespread flooding in low-lying areas
Shipping lanes in the South China Sea have been rerouted, with temporary port closures reported in Da Nang and Hue. The storm's trajectory poses minimal direct threat to Hainan Island or the Chinese mainland, though maritime alerts remain active in the Beibu Gulf.
Economic Considerations
Analysts note potential short-term disruptions to:
Global reinsurance firms have activated emergency response teams, while Vietnam's government has mobilized 40,000 military personnel for disaster response operations.
