Vietnam is reeling from the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Kajiki, which has claimed at least seven lives and caused widespread destruction across the country. Heavy rains and ferocious winds have damaged thousands of homes, submerged vast agricultural lands, and left much of the capital, Hanoi, underwater. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the storm’s aftermath reveals the profound vulnerability of Vietnam’s infrastructure and communities to extreme weather events.
A Trail of Destruction Across Provinces
Typhoon Kajiki struck with unrelenting force, particularly in central Vietnam’s Nghe An Province, where it delivered a brutal combination of hurricane-force winds and torrential rains. Reports indicate that 17 houses were completely swept away, while nearly 25,000 homes lost their roofs. Over 3,900 properties were inundated, leaving countless families displaced in a region already grappling with economic hardship.
In neighboring Thanh Hoa Province, the situation is equally dire. Flooding has severed access to 27 hamlets, isolating rural communities and complicating rescue operations. The agricultural toll is staggering: over 90,000 hectares of rice fields and 15,000 hectares of other crops and fruit trees lie submerged. The storm also felled more than 100,000 trees, damaged 7,000 hectares of forest, and resulted in the loss of over 11,500 livestock and poultry, striking a severe blow to local livelihoods. 
Infrastructure across multiple provinces has been crippled. Transportation networks are in disarray, with 216 landslides blocking roads and dozens of bridges rendered unusable due to flooding. Air travel faced significant disruptions, with 35 flights canceled and 30 others diverted as airports like Dong Hoi and Tho Xuan were forced to shut temporarily. The power grid sustained massive damage, leaving over 1.5 million customers without electricity. More than 2,650 power poles were toppled, primarily in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Ha Tinh provinces.
Amid the chaos, stories of resilience emerge. In Vinh City, Nghe An Province, the streets became a tangle of uprooted trees and downed power lines on August 26, paralyzing traffic and communication. Local media reported that a 70-year-old resident recounted the terror of a tree crashing onto his roof. “A tree fell on our roof, and my family, all elderly, couldn’t possibly handle it … We were so relieved when the soldiers arrived to help.” These words, help to underscore the critical role of military and emergency response teams, in assisting vulnerable communities across the north of the country.
Coastal areas in Ha Tinh Province faced similar devastation. At Xuan Thanh beach resort, businesses were left shattered. One restaurant owner described his establishment as being in ruins, a sentiment echoing the broader economic impact on tourism-dependent regions.
Hanoi Transformed into a Watery Maze
The capital, Hanoi, bore the brunt of relentless rainfall that began on the afternoon of August 25 and persisted through August 26. Streets turned into rivers as floodwaters reached depths that submerged motorbikes and halted traffic across the city. In the Hoai Duc urban area, water levels neared a meter, forcing businesses to close and residents to resort to makeshift rafts to salvage belongings.
The deluge’s ferocity was evident near Saint Paul General Hospital, where a 15-meter-tall mahogany tree collapsed, crushing a car. Miraculously, the driver escaped unharmed. Rainfall measurements recorded a staggering 365mm by the evening of August 26, pushing water levels in iconic lakes like Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, and Truc Bach to critical heights. Hanoi’s drainage system, despite operating at full capacity, was overwhelmed, leaving many streets impassable as of Tuesday evening.
Authorities have urged residents to prepare response plans to navigate the ongoing crisis, emphasizing the need for caution to ensure safety amid flooded roads and disrupted daily life. The scale of the flooding in a major urban center like Hanoi highlights the urgent need for improved infrastructure to cope with increasingly severe weather patterns.
Mountainous Regions Face New Threats
As the immediate impact of Typhoon Kajiki subsides, new dangers loom in Vietnam’s mountainous regions. Prolonged post-typhoon rains are triggering tube floods and landslides, further isolating villages in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Emergency evacuations have been necessary in some areas, with communities like Muong Tip Commune in Nghe An facing a harrowing cycle of floods on top of floods, after enduring a historic deluge just last month.
Northern mountainous provinces such as Lao Cai and Phu Tho have also reported heavy rains and landslides, particularly in areas like Sa Pa and Van Ban. These incidents compound the challenges for authorities already stretched thin by the widespread destruction elsewhere in the country.
Underlying Vulnerabilities and Climate Concerns
The devastation wrought by Typhoon Kajiki is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events impacting Vietnam. The country’s geography, with its long coastline and mountainous interior, makes it particularly susceptible to typhoons and flooding. Central provinces like Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, often in the direct path of such storms, suffer repeatedly, with limited resources to rebuild and fortify against future disasters.
Urban centers like Hanoi, despite their economic significance, reveal glaring weaknesses in infrastructure when faced with such deluges. The overwhelmed drainage systems and paralyzed transportation networks point to a pressing need for investment in climate-resilient urban planning. As rainfall records are shattered—365mm in a single day in Hanoi—the question arises: how can Vietnam adapt to a future where such events may become more frequent and intense?
Agricultural losses, particularly in Thanh Hoa, underscore another layer of vulnerability. With over 90,000 hectares of rice fields underwater, food security for local communities is at risk. The destruction of livestock and forests further erodes the economic foundation of rural areas, where alternative income sources are scarce. Recovery will be a long and arduous process, requiring coordinated efforts between government agencies, international aid, and local organizations.
Community Spirit Amid Crisis
Amid the wreckage, the spirit of solidarity shines through. Soldiers and emergency responders have been instrumental in clearing debris and assisting families like that of Dang Khac Tri in Vinh City. Community members in Hanoi have banded together, using improvised solutions to navigate flooded streets and protect their belongings. These acts of mutual support, though small in the face of such widespread destruction, offer a glimmer of hope.
Yet, the scale of the disaster demands more than temporary relief. The loss of life—seven confirmed deaths so far—serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of natural disasters. Each number represents a family grappling with irreplaceable loss, a community mourning, and a nation compelled to act.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Resilience
As Vietnam begins the daunting task of recovery, the aftermath of Typhoon Kajiki raises critical questions about preparedness and adaptation. How will the government address the immediate needs of displaced families and isolated villages? What long-term strategies can mitigate the impact of future storms on agriculture, infrastructure, and urban centers like Hanoi?
International attention and support will likely play a role, as Vietnam’s struggle mirrors that of other Southeast Asian nations facing the escalating effects of climate change. For now, the focus remains on clearing roads, restoring power, and ensuring the safety of those in flood-prone areas. But the broader challenge—building a more resilient Vietnam—looms large on the horizon.
The scars left by Typhoon Kajiki will take time to heal, both in the physical landscape and in the lives of those affected. As rescue operations press on and communities rally together, the nation watches, hoping for recovery and a stronger defense against the storms yet to come.
