Southeast Asia has once again been battered by nature’s fury as Typhoon Kajiki struck Vietnam before triggering a trail of destruction across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The storm arrives during the region’s already intensified monsoon season, combining widespread flooding and deadly landslides. While Southeast Asia is no stranger to tropical storms, Kajiki’s power, scale, and timing highlight the growing risks posed by a warming climate.
Kajiki’s Landfall in Vietnam
Typhoon Kajiki made landfall near regions like Vinh, in northern Vietnam, as a Category 2 storm. Winds exceeding 100 km per hour, coupled with torrential rain, battered coastal provinces and forced mass evacuations. Due to events like flooding, collapsed homes, and electrocution, at least seven people lost their lives, one person was reported missing, and almost 34 people were injured. Some reports place the death toll all across the country.
The damage was widespread as nearly 7000 homes were destroyed or inundated. Moreover, nearly 28,800 hectares of rice fields were flooded, and 18,000 trees were toppled. Power infrastructure also suffered, with 331 electricity poles downed, leaving thousands without power. In a swift response, authorities evacuated more than 600,000 people. These authorities were largely supported by the deployment of 120,000 military and paramilitary personnel to aid in rescue and relief operations.
Floods and Landslides Across the Region
Kajiki’s devastation extended beyond Vietnam to other regions as well. As the storm weakened but continued westward, it unleashed days of relentless monsoon rainfall across countries like Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. In northern Thailand, the saturated hillsides collapsed, causing deadly landslides. During these events, at least five people were killed, while seven others remained missing, including a child. Floodwaters swept through villages, isolating entire communities.
Across Laos and Cambodia, rivers overflowed their banks, submerging farmland and damaging numerous households. Moreover, thousands were displaced as families fled rising waters. In Myanmar, fragile riverbank settlements were among the hardest hit, with homes completely washed away and food supplies spoiled. In this context, relief agencies across the region warned that agricultural losses could worsen food insecurity in already vulnerable areas.
Humanitarian and Government Response
Governments and numerous aid agencies moved rapidly to address the ongoing crisis. In Vietnam, temporary shelters were established in schools and major community centers. Some relief organizations, including the Red Cross, provided food, clean water, and medical assistance to the vulnerable population. The government also prioritized restoring electricity and clearing blocked roads to reconnect Typhoon-hit isolated regions.
Thailand declared states of emergency in flood-hit provinces, deploying helicopters and rescue teams to reach those trapped by landslides. Other countries like Cambodia and Laos also issued flood alerts along the Mekong River, reinforcing embankments and preparing additional flood shelters. Some prominent international NGOs and UN agencies began coordinating longer-term support, including rebuilding housing and rehabilitating affected farmland.
Monsoon Chaos Made Worse
Kajiki arrived at a very unexpected time during the peak monsoon season, making its impact far worse. Resultantly, rivers that were already swollen by seasonal rains spilled over, overwhelming drainage systems and inundating urban centers. In Hanoi alone, streets turned into rivers, which halted traffic and disrupted countless businesses.
Ultimately, the agricultural toll is expected to be severe as never before. With tens of thousands of hectares of crops destroyed, rice and vegetable shortages could push up food prices and strain household budgets across the region. Transportation bottlenecks further complicated relief delivery, which underscored the fragility of infrastructure in the face of climate extremes.
Scientists warn that climate change is primarily responsible for making tropical storms like Kajiki stronger and wetter. Warmer sea surface temperatures fuel more powerful typhoons. On the other hand, rising atmospheric moisture also increases rainfall intensity. Kajiki adds to a worrying trend of destructive storms striking most of Southeast Asia with unprecedented frequency.
Meteorologists also note the role of El Niño conditions that warm Pacific waters and can supercharge storms. Compared with past decades, typhoons are now causing greater economic losses, prolonged disruptions, and more severe humanitarian impacts. Undoubtedly, it highlights the need for climate adaptation.
Building Regional Climate Resilience
The recent typhoon underscores the urgent need for Southeast Asia to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience. Early warning systems should be upgraded, and flood defenses should be reinforced. Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure could help reduce casualties and damage in the future.
For building a weather-friendly regional climate resilience mechanism, cooperation is the key. Since typhoons sweep across multiple countries, coordinated disaster response and cross-border data sharing are essential. Additionally, partnerships with international organizations can bring technical expertise and funding to help Southeast Asia prepare for a future where extreme weather is increasingly the norm.
The Way Forward
Typhoon Kajiki has left a painful mark on Southeast Asia as it has killing at least eight people in Vietnam and five in Thailand. It has also displaced hundreds of thousands and destroyed homes, crops, and infrastructure. Its timing during the monsoon season magnified the destruction and unveiled how climate change is reshaping weather risks for millions around the world.
As the region rebuilds, Kajiki’s lessons must never be ignored. Reliable preparedness, better infrastructure, and regional cooperation are critical to surviving the storms of tomorrow. The fury of Kajiki is a sobering reminder that in a warming world, such disasters may no longer be rare, but their toll can still be reduced through foresight and effective actions.
