Vietnam evacuates over 586,000 as Typhoon Kajiki intensifies

Vietnam announced plans to evacuate more than half a million people and ordered boats to stay ashore, while the southern Chinese city of Sanya closed businesses and public transport on Sunday as both braced for an intensifying Typhoon Kajiki.

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The storm is forecast to “brush past” the southern coast of China's island province of Hainan from Sunday evening before heading for Vietnam, China’s National Meteorological Center said.

As of 0900 GMT, the storm had gained strength, with winds reaching 166 kph (lO3 mph), according to Vietnam's national weather forecast agency.

It is likely to strengthen further with wind speeds as high as 18O kph, China’s weather forecaster said.

Authorities in Vietnam plan to evacuate more than 586,000 people from the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue and Danang, where the typhoon is forecast to make landfall early on Monday, state media reported.

People in the projected path should not go outdoors after 1400 GMT on Sunday, and soldiers are standing by to help, the government said.

Seven coastal provinces in Vietnam banned boats from leaving shore early on Sunday, Tien Phong newspaper reported.

Vietnam Airlines cancelled at least 22 flights to and from central cities on Sunday and Monday. Vietjet Aviation said it was cancelling or delaying flights but did not provide details.

China's Sanya, renowned for seafront resorts and sandy beaches, closed tourist attractions, shuttered businesses and suspended public transport.