At least 10 dead in Cuba from Irma: official

"The unfortunate loss of 10 human lives has been reported so far," in several parts of the island, including Havana, the agency said in a statement.

The civil defence said the causes of the deaths ranged from electrocution to drowning, building collapse and a balcony falling on a bus.

Some of the victims had ignored instructions to evacuate, it said.

Irma hammered Cuba with winds up to 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour in Havana, with an unprecedented storm surge swamping parts of the capital and leaving many people waist deep in water.

The storm "seriously" damaged the center of the island with winds up to 256 kilometres per hour, according to Cuban state media.

Authorities said they evacuated more than a million people overall as a precaution.

The hurricane killed at least 25 people earlier on its path across the Caribbean.

Irma weakened early today to a tropical storm as it continued on a northward path through Florida.