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The government has begun moving more than 36,000 vacationers at beaches resorts on the northern coast of eastern and central Cuba to safe areas before a possible arrival of Hurricane Irma.

As Hurricane Irma churns west, currently near the north coastline of the Dominican Republic, preparations have stepped up in Cuba on alert from Guantanamo to Matanzas. Conditions could begin to deteriorate in the far eastern part of the island starting late tonight.

The latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows a projected track for Hurricane Irma, when it approaches Cuba, slightly further north than the previous forecasts. Such a move, if it holds, could spare the island from a direct hit on land.

With Hurricane Irma potentially a couple days away from Eastern Cuba, it is advisable to remain alert and informed. During the next few days, the probability of isolated and scattered rains in the capital will remain high, and occasional storms may be perceived.

Hurricane Irma is still two days away from approaching far eastern Cuba but the time will fly and those aware of the danger are making preparations along with the Civil Defense authorities, now in the Hurricane Watch phase from Guantanamo to Matanzas.

Taking into account the different tracks forecast for Hurricane Irma, Cuba’s Civil Defense network kicked into action with their Hurricane Watch phase on Tuesday afternoon, reported Granma.cu.

The Ministry of Construction has issued an order prohibiting cooperatives in its field from carrying out work outside the province in which they were established. Works already underway in other provinces must now conclude within a period of no more than three months.

Hurricane Irma, with incredibly strong 140 mph (220 km/h) winds, continues to move towards the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean. It also poses a threat to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas from Wednesday on through the weekend.