Vietnam evacuates tens of thousands ahead of Typhoon Kajiki

Vinh, Vietnam: Vietnam evacuated tens of thousands of residents from coastal areas on Monday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Kajiki, which is expected...

Vinh, Vietnam: Vietnam evacuated tens of thousands of residents from coastal areas on Monday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Kajiki, which is expected to lash the country's central belt with gales of around 140 kmh.

The typhoon -- the fifth to affect Vietnam this year -- is currently at sea, roiling the Gulf of Tonkin with waves of up to 9.5 metres (31 feet).

More than 325,500 residents in five coastal provinces have been slated for evacuation to schools and public buildings converted into temporary shelters, authorities said.

The waterfront city of Vinh was deluged overnight, its streets largely deserted by morning with most shops and restaurants closed as residents and business owners sandbagged their property entrances.

By dawn nearly 30,000 people had been evacuated from the region, as 16,000 military personnel were mobilised.