MIAMI, Sept 11, 2006 (AFP) - Hurricane Florence closed in on Bermuda early Monday, sending wave surges crashing against the tiny Atlantic island's coast, weather forecasters said.

At 0600 GMT the center of the storm was about 110 miles (175 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and headed toward the north at nearly 12 miles (19 kilometers) per hour, the US National Hurricane Center said.

The eye of the storm is expected "near or just west" of Bermuda early Monday, the NHC said in a statement.

"Preparations to protect life and