HANOI: Vietnam has launched large-scale evacuation measures and suspended major transport operations as Typhoon Kajiki, one of the strongest storms of the year, approaches its central coast.

Authorities ordered more than half a million residents to move from high-risk areas in the provinces of Thanh Hóa, Quảng Trị, Huế, Da Nang, and Nghệ An. Schools and government offices in these regions have been shut down, while two major airports in Thanh Hóa and Quảng Bình suspended operations. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet cancelled and rescheduled dozens of domestic flights.

The typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 166 km/h (103 mph), is expected to make landfall on Monday afternoon between Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An. Officials warned the storm could intensify further before landfall, raising fears of destructive flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage similar to last year’s deadly Typhoon Yagi.

All fishing vessels have been ordered to remain docked, and coastal authorities have halted marine traffic across the region. Flood-control systems, dykes, and reservoirs are being reinforced as a precaution. In Hue, farmers are rushing to harvest crops ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Typhoon Kajiki has already battered China’s southern Hainan island, forcing the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents and bringing sustained winds of up to 162 km/h. Public transport, shipping, and tourism services in the resort city of Sanya were suspended, while forecasts warned of 25 to 35 centimeters of rainfall across the island. More than 21,000 fishing crew members were brought ashore as a safety measure.

Meteorological agencies predict Kajiki will continue moving westward across the South China Sea toward Vietnam, maintaining strong winds and heavy rainfall. Emergency services remain on high alert, and authorities have urged the public to comply with evacuation orders to minimize casualties.