Typhoon Bopha is moving northwest in the East Sea with winds of up to 117 kph but it will change its course first to northeast and then to southeast, the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center has said. At 4 am today the typhoon’s eye was located 13.4 degrees North latitude and 115.8 degrees East longitude, 550 km southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, packing winds of 103-117 kph and gusts of up to 132 kph. The storm is moving northwest at about 10 km but over the next 24 hours it will change direction towards northeast and travel slower, at 5-10 km, the center said. At 4 am tomorrow, December 8, the storm can be seen 450 km east-southeast of the archipelago, packing winds of 89-117 kph and gusts of 132 kph. At 4 am Sunday, the typhoon will lie about 570 km east of Hoang Sa, with winds of 89-102 kph and gusts of 118-132 kph. Over the next 24 hours, the storm will likely change its direction again, towards southeast and move at only about 5 km. The typhoon’s circulation will create violent rough seas, showers, thunderstorms, and winds of 63-87 kph in the middle area of the East Sea, including the area northeast of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. Near the typhoon’s eye, winds will be stronger, up to 117 kph.

The storm, which is combining with strong seasonal northeastern winds, will also cause rough seas and strong winds of 40-62 kph in the northern areas of the East Sea, including the sea of Hoang Sa.

The Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control has asked local steering committees and authorities in coastal region from Da Nang city to Ba Ria-Vung Tau to prepare to cope with typhoon Bopha, the ninth storm that has affected Vietnam so far this year. Local authorities and concerned agencies must keep all vessels at sea, especially those around Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, up to date on the storm’s movement. The National Committee for Search and Rescue said border guard forces from central Da Nang city to southernmost Ca Mau province said they have informed about 46,700 boats with about 253,800 people on board about the storm so that they can take safety measures.