Hurricane Earl prompts US evacuations

The hurricane is currently heading northwest

Evacuations have begun in areas of the US east coast likely to be hit by Hurricane Earl.

The storm has dropped to Category Three but is still generating sustained winds of 201km/h (135mph).

One island in North Carolina's Outer Banks is being evacuated and visitors are being asked to leave another.

The narrow islands are served by a single main road and officials worry that waves washing over it will cause danger to travellers.

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The most important thing for people living in Earl's potential tract to do is to listen to and follow the instructions of their local officials”

End Quote Craig Fugate Fema Administrator

• In pictures: Hurricane Earl batters Caribbean

The local authorities expect the storm to pass 80 miles away from the islands, which are popular with tourists, meaning high winds and waves are likely.

Hatteras Island is being evacuated of visitors, while both visitors and residents have been told to leave Ocracoke Island just to the south.

The hurricane is currently east of the central Bahamas and is moving northwest.

"Large swells from Earl should affect the Bahamas and the southeastern coast of the United States today [Wednesday]. These swells will likely cause dangerous surf conditions and rip currents," the National Hurricane Center said.

A hurricane watch has been issued for most of the North Carolina coastline just ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has warned people along the eastern seaboard to prepare for evacuations.

Forecasters at the NHC said they expected the hurricane to turn north and then run parallel to the east coast.

Ferries have been transporting vehicles from Hatteras Island as part of the evacuation

"The most important thing for people living in Earl's potential tract to do is to listen to and follow the instructions of their local officials," Fema Administrator Craig Fugate said.

The Labor Day weekend marks the end of a holiday season and many Americans use it to head for the beach.

On Monday the hurricane battered northeastern Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico, causing power cuts and flooding.

Earl is being closely followed by Tropical Storm Fiona, currently east of the Leeward Isles with winds of up to 65km/h.