Powerful typhoon Bopha has changed direction towards north-northeast in the East Sea and will continue reversing its course to go southward today, the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center has said. At 7 pm yesterday, December 7, the typhoon’s eye was located 15.4 degrees North latitude and 116 degrees East longitude, 440 km east-southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, packing winds of 134-166 kph. The storm has since changed direction from northwest to north-northeast and moved at about 10 kph. At 7 pm Saturday, December 8, the storm can be seen 520 km east of the archipelago, packing winds of 118-149 kph. Over the next 24 hours, the storm will likely change its direction again, towards south-southeast and move at only about 5 km. At 7 pm Sunday, the typhoon may lie about 620 km northeast of Song Tu Tay Island of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, with winds of 89-102 kph and gusts of 118-132 kph. The typhoon will then likely reverse direction towards south-southwest and move at 10 kph. It will later weaken and is unlikely to land in Vietnam, according to the center. The storm’s circulation is creating violent rough seas and winds of 76-102 kph in the middle area of the East Sea, including the sea of Hoang Sa. Near the typhoon’s eye, winds will be stronger, over 132 kph.