Forecasters say Matthew has become a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest in the Atlantic since Hurricane Felix in 2007.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Matthew is packing top sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph) after gaining new strength Friday.
The storm is about 80 miles northwest of Punta Gallinas, Colombia, and about 440 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
The center says that as of 11 p.m. Friday, the storm is moving west at 7 mph.
Forecasters say they expect Matthew to remain a powerful hurricane through Sunday, when it is on track to approach Jamaica. Tropical storm conditions are possible there late Sunday and hurricane conditions possible Monday.
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