Typhoon Kujiki struck the north-central coast of Vietnam on Monday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that caused trees to fall and buildings to flood, prompting widespread evacuations by authorities. By 9:00 GMT, the typhoon reached the coasts of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, with wind speeds slowing to between 118 and 133 km/h from 166 km/h, according to the national meteorological agency. Rainfall could reach up to 500 millimeters from Monday afternoon until the end of Tuesday in parts of northern Vietnam. Local resident Dang Xuan Phong described the scene as “terrifying,” noting waves up to two meters high flooding roads. Official media reported power outages in several areas of Ha Tinh province, damaged roofs, and washed-away floating fish farms. Airports and schools were closed earlier, and mass evacuations began in preparation for the strongest storm this year.

During the night, water flooded the coastal city center of Vinh in northern Vietnam. By morning, streets were nearly empty, most shops and restaurants closed, with sandbags placed at entrances for protection. Authorities evacuated about 30,000 people and deployed around 16,000 soldiers. The government warned of a “fast-moving and extremely dangerous storm,” forecasting heavy rains, floods, and landslides. Vietnam’s long coastline along the South China Sea makes it vulnerable to deadly storms causing severe floods and landslides. On Sunday, plans were announced to evacuate over 586,000 people from central provinces Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Danang. Kujiki is the fifth typhoon to hit Vietnam this year, with official sources reporting over 100 deaths or missing persons due to natural disasters in the first seven months of 2025 and economic losses estimated at $21 million.

In September last year, Vietnam suffered $3.3 billion in economic losses from Typhoon Yagi, which hit northern regions causing hundreds of casualties. Scientists warn that climate change driven by industrial activities is causing more severe and volatile weather events, increasing the risk of devastating floods and storms, especially in tropical areas.