"We have established protocols for the safety of all," he said at a news conference, while he also urged islanders to take precautions.

In the Dominican Republic, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo said workers there were clear away road works and also clean out blockages of sewer drains. He said President Danilo Medina would lead a meeting with emergencies agencies on Monday to discuss storm preparations.

The American hurricane model has the put the storm further away from the US coast than the European model.

There is some confusion over the path Irma will take, with some forecasters believing it will slide back over the Atlantic, while others fear it could make landfall in the Caribbean and possibly then the US.