Typhoon Kajiki Death Toll Rises in Vietnam as Rescue Efforts Hampered

AFP/APP

Vietnam: The death toll from Typhoon Kajiki rose to three in Vietnam on Tuesday as rescue workers struggled to clear uprooted trees and downed power lines, while widespread flooding brought chaos to the capital, Hanoi.

Kajiki struck central Vietnam on Monday with winds of up to 130 km/h (80 mph), ripping roofs off thousands of homes and cutting power to more than 1.6 million people. Authorities reported three deaths and 13 injuries, warning of possible flash floods and landslides in eight provinces as heavy rains continued.

In Vinh, AFP journalists witnessed soldiers and rescue teams using cutting equipment to remove fallen trees and steel roof panels blocking roads. “A huge steel roof was blown down from the eighth floor of a building, landing right in the middle of the street. It was so lucky that no one was hurt. This typhoon was absolutely terrifying,” said resident Tran Van Hung, 65.

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Flooding has cut off 27 villages in mountainous areas, while more than 44,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm.

Chaos in Hanoi

Heavy rains inundated streets in Hanoi, causing severe traffic disruptions. “It was impossible to move around this morning. My front yard is also flooded,” said resident Nguyen Thuy Lan, 44. Another commuter, Tran Luu Phuc, described being stuck for more than an hour in gridlocked traffic.

Kajiki weakened into a tropical depression after crossing Vietnam and moved into northern Laos, where it brought intense rains. The Laos-China high-speed railway suspended all services on Monday and Tuesday, and several roads were cut off, though no casualties were reported.

Vietnam has long faced seasonal typhoons, but experts warn that human-induced climate change is intensifying storms and increasing the risk of destructive floods across the tropics.

The agriculture ministry reported that more than 100 people have been killed or left missing in Vietnam due to natural disasters in the first seven months of 2025. Last September, Typhoon Yagi battered northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, leaving more than 700 people dead and causing billions of dollars in damages.