Strong winds and heavy rainfall from Typhoon Kajiki have impacted southern China’s Hainan Island and surrounding areas of Guangdong province. The storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 km/h, is now heading towards Vietnam’s central coast.
Approximately 20,000 individuals were evacuated from areas deemed at risk, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Fishing boats returned to port, with over 21,000 crew members coming ashore to avoid the impending storm. A video shared by Guangdong Radio and Television captured the destruction, showing winds snapping tree branches and violently rocking docked boats, with waves crashing over the pier.
Impact on Hainan Island
Forecasts indicate that southern Hainan Island, particularly the popular resort city of Sanya, could receive between 25 to 35 centimeters of rain. In response to the storm, Sanya has closed businesses and tourist attractions, suspended public transport, and halted shipping activities. Local authorities have advised residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.
The typhoon, whose name translates to “spearfish” or “swordfish” in Japanese, is expected to make landfall on Vietnam’s coast on Monday, October 2, 2023. Vietnamese authorities are preparing for the storm by planning to evacuate more than 586,000 people from the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue, and Danang.
Preparations in Vietnam
In anticipation of the storm, seven coastal provinces in Vietnam implemented a ban on boats leaving the shore as of early Sunday morning. Tien Phong newspaper reported that the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has cancelled at least 22 flights to and from central cities for Sunday and Monday. Low-cost carrier Vietjet Aviation also announced it would be cancelling or delaying flights, although details were not immediately available.
As Typhoon Kajiki continues to strengthen, authorities in both China and Vietnam remain vigilant, prioritizing public safety in the face of severe weather conditions. Further updates are expected as the situation evolves.
