According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 6:00 p.m. on August 24, Storm No. 5 (Kajiki) was located about 435 km east-southeast of Nghe An, 410 km from Ha Tinh, and 360 km from northern Quang Tri.

The storm’s strongest winds are sustaining speeds of 150–166 km/h (level 14), with gusts reaching up to 202 km/h (level 17), and it may continue to gain strength.

By 7:00 a.m. tomorrow (August 25), the storm is expected to move west-northwest at approximately 20 km/h. At that time, its center will be positioned over the southern Gulf of Tonkin, about 200 km from Nghe An, 180 km from Ha Tinh to the east-southeast, and 90 km northeast of northern Quang Tri. It is forecast to maintain level 14 winds and level 17 gusts.

By midday and afternoon of the same day, the storm will move inland over the area between Nghe An and northern Quang Tri.

Authorities have issued a disaster risk warning of level 4 for areas between Thanh Hoa and northern Quang Tri, including the coastal zones from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.

The meteorological agency warned of potentially devastating consequences should the storm’s level 4 disaster risk be realized. Specifically:

Large trees and old-growth forest could be uprooted in droves. Non-reinforced buildings, including those with metal and tile roofs, are at high risk of severe damage or destruction.

Infrastructure such as billboards, utility poles, high-voltage transmission lines, and transformer stations may collapse or catch fire, leading to widespread power outages.

Urban flooding could become critical, overwhelming drainage systems.

Mountainous areas face landslides and flash floods in streams and steep gullies, causing transport disruptions.

Dikes could break, and deep flooding may occur in estuaries and low-lying coastal zones.

Aquaculture facilities (shrimp ponds, fish cages) risk being swept away.

Transportation and infrastructure may be paralyzed. On land, roads may be flooded, eroded, or cut off due to damaged bridges and culverts. At sea, vessels face capsizing, grounding, or going missing.

The storm could severely affect daily life and society, including extended power outages and disruptions to clean water supply and communication services.

Widespread damage to homes, crops, livestock, and aquaculture is expected.

There could be significant casualties if people do not evacuate in time.

From early tomorrow morning, strong winds at level 10 are expected in Thanh Hoa through Quang Tri, making movement difficult in open areas. Around noon to afternoon, Storm No. 5 (Kajiki) is likely to make landfall, bringing level 14 winds to Nghe An and northern Quang Tri.

Before the storm’s arrival, hundreds of fishermen in Ninh Binh have rushed to pull in fish cages and nets, and move their boats to safe shelters.

In preparation for Storm No. 5, authorities in Nghe An and Ha Tinh evacuated thousands of residents to designated safe zones before 5:30 p.m. today.

Bao Anh