Tropical Storm Kajiki unleashed severe destruction across northern Thailand, triggering deadly landslides and widespread flooding that disrupted the lives of thousands of residents. The Thai disaster agency confirmed on Thursday that at least five individuals lost their lives, while seven more remain missing as relentless rains and landslides devastated several northern provinces. The storm has left a trail of destruction, compounding the struggles of communities already vulnerable to natural disasters.
Kajiki, which initially made landfall in Vietnam earlier this week as a powerful typhoon, claimed seven lives there before crossing into Thailand. According to Vietnam’s government, the storm submerged over 10,000 homes and offices, and destroyed nearly 86 hectares of rice fields and cash crops, causing not just human casualties but also extensive damage to livelihoods and the agricultural economy. The storm’s intensity, coupled with the torrential rains it brought, overwhelmed both rural and urban areas, pushing authorities into emergency relief operations.
In Thailand, the impact was equally devastating. Flooding and landslides swept through twelve provinces in the northern and northeastern regions, with Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son among the worst-hit areas. The Thai disaster agency reported that more than 6,300 people and 1,800 households were directly affected. Four people in Chiang Mai were killed in a landslide, while another individual drowned in Mae Hong Son. The Interior Ministry added that fifteen others sustained injuries in Chiang Mai, and several remain unaccounted for, with five buried in landslides and two carried away by raging floodwaters.
Despite rescue and recovery efforts, the crisis persisted on Thursday, with flooding continuing in at least eight provinces. Nearly 6,000 people from around 1,600 households are still grappling with rising waters, unable to return to normalcy. Emergency teams have been dispatched to provide food, medical aid, and shelter, but access remains a significant challenge in some remote, landslide-affected regions.
This disaster is not an isolated event but part of a troubling pattern. It marks the second time this year that northern Thailand has been ravaged by typhoon remnants. Just a few months earlier, in June, typhoon Wutip had swept in from southern China, inflicting similar destruction. The repeated assaults highlight the growing vulnerability of the region to climate-induced storms, raising concerns about preparedness and long-term resilience strategies.
