Severe Typhoon Kajiki has carved a destructive path across southeast Asia, making a devastating landfall on the Vietnamese coast before setting its sights on southern China. The powerful storm brought torrential rains and ferocious winds, causing significant damage and triggering the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents.
The storm initially struck near the city of Vinh in north-central Vietnam, unleashing its full fury on the region. Authorities, acting on urgent warnings, coordinated one of the largest emergency responses of the season to move people to safety.
China's Hainan Island Braces for Impact
After battering Vietnam, Typhoon Kajiki churned towards China, prompting the issuance of the highest alert for the island province of Hainan. The national meteorological centre warned of exceptionally heavy rainfall and potentially catastrophic conditions as the storm's centre approached.
In preparation, China suspended all passenger rail services crossing the Qiongzhou Strait, a critical transport link separating Hainan from the mainland. This pre-emptive measure highlights the severity of the threat posed by the typhoon's immense power.
A Dual Atlantic Threat: Hurricane Erin
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Erin intensified into a major Category 3 storm, setting a course for Bermuda. The US National Hurricane Center projected the storm would pass dangerously close to the island, bringing a high risk of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
This concurrent development of major storms in different hemispheres underscores a period of intense and widespread global tropical activity, keeping meteorological services on high alert.
Record-Breaking Heat and a Glimpse of Autumn
In a stark contrast to the tropical fury, parts of Europe endured a final blistering heatwave before the anticipated arrival of autumn. Southern Spain and France experienced temperatures soaring into the high 30s Celsius, with Córdoba, Spain, nearly breaking its August record.
However, forecasters predict a significant shift is on the horizon. A strong jet stream is expected to push cooler air across the continent, finally breaking the prolonged heat and bringing conditions more typical for the time of year.
