Heavy rain swept through parts of Southeast Asia this week, causing severe flooding and landslides that have claimed at least eight lives. The storm’s impact was most felt in northern and central Vietnam and northern Thailand, where communities are still coping with the damage.
In Vietnam, heavy rains led to flooding across several provinces. Officials reported seven fatalities, one person missing, and 34 injured. Some areas in the northeast saw nearly 20 centimeters, or 8 inches, of rain fall overnight, prompting flood warnings along rivers. Thousands had already been evacuated from high-risk zones as Tropical Storm Kajiki made landfall in central Vietnam earlier this week.
To the west, northern Thailand also faced the storm’s wrath. Flooding hit multiple provinces, with Nan province seeing residents evacuated due to rising river levels. In Chiang Mai province, a landslide devastated a small village, resulting in one death, numerous injuries, and seven people missing, including an eight-year-old child. Local disaster authorities noted widespread damage to homes and warned that flash floods and landslides remain a danger in the region’s foothills and low-lying areas.
This heavy rain was a direct consequence of Tropical Storm Kajiki, which started in the South China Sea and struck central Vietnam on Monday. Kajiki had earlier affected China’s southern Hainan Island with strong winds and rain.
Scientists are now raising concerns about the future. A study published this year suggests that as the ocean warms due to climate change, storms like Kajiki may form closer to land, grow stronger more quickly, and last longer. This could mean more frequent and severe flooding in Southeast Asia’s cities.
For now, communities in Vietnam and Thailand face a tough road to recovery. With more rain forecasted, authorities continue to issue warnings and urge people living near rivers and in hilly areas to stay alert.