VINH, Vietnam — Tens of thousands of residents were being evacuated from coastal Vietnam on Monday, as Typhoon Kajiki barreled towards landfall expected to lash the country's central belt with gales of around 160 kmh.
The typhoon — the fifth to affect Vietnam this year — is currently at sea, roiling the Gulf of Tonkin with waves of up to 9.5 meters (31 feet).
More than 325,500 residents in five coastal provinces have been slated for evacuation to schools and public buildings converted into temporary shelters, authorities said.
The waterfront city of Vinh was deluged overnight, its streets largely deserted by morning with most shops and restaurants closed as residents and business-owners sandbagged their property entrances.
By dawn nearly 30,000 people had been evacuated from the region, two domestic airports were shut and all fishing ships in the typhoon's path called back to harbour.
It is expected to make landfall around 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) with winds of 157 kilometres per hour (98 miles per hour), Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.
However, its power is due to dramatically dissipate thereafter.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center said conditions suggested "an approaching weakening trend as the system approaches the continental shelf of the Gulf of Tonkin where there is less ocean heat content".
Over a dozen domestic Vietnamese flights were cancelled on Sunday, while China's tropical resort of Hainan evacuated around 20,000 residents as the typhoon passed its south.

The island's main city, Sanya, closed scenic areas and halted business operations.
Vietnam evacuates thousands ahead of Typhoon Kajiki
In Vietnam, more than 100 people have been killed or left missing from natural disasters in the first seven months of 2025, according to the agriculture ministry.
Economic losses have been estimated at more than million.
Vietnam suffered .3 billion in economic losses last September as a result of Typhoon Yagi, which swept across the country's north and caused hundreds of fatalities., This news data comes from:http://xs888999.com
Scientists say human-caused climate change is driving more intense and unpredictable weather patterns that can make destructive floods and storms more likely, particularly in the tropics.
Vietnam evacuates thousands ahead of Typhoon Kajiki
- Govt monitoring Chinese ‘sleeper agents’ in PH
- Petitioners challenge claim NAIA fees lowest in Southeast Asia
- La Salle vows to help ease Ortigas traffic
- Marcos sacks PNP Chief Torre, saying it was 'difficult but necessary'
- Earthquake kills 250, injures 500 in Afghanistan
- India to develop fighter jet engines with French company
- Marcos wants subpoena power for body investigating flood projects
- Gasoline, diesel price hikes seen next week
- DPWH Secretary Dizon orders perpetual ban of Wawao Builders, Syms Construction for ghost projects
- Xi and Putin reaffirm 'old friend' ties in the face of US challenges