TORONTO — The Cuba Tourist Board has issued an update after Hurricane Ian passed through earlier this week.

The storm went through the most western part of Cuba, over the province of Pinar del Rio, with category 3 winds. There was some damage in local areas of Pinar del Rio.

“There are no resorts in the neighbouring areas impacted by the hurricane; none of the popular hotel zones were affected, all the airports in the island are open and the country is fully operational,” says the tourist board.

There have been some reports that the island had no power, but Lessner Gomez, Director of The Cuba Tourist Board in Toronto, wants to clarify that the local damage didn’t affect any hotel infrastructure. “We want to reassure Canadians that the hotels are open 100% with no damages, the hotels have their own generators, and they are operating normally,” said Gomez.

IAN STRIKES FLORIDA

Meanwhile Hurricane Ian made landfall along Florida’s southwest coast yesterday and continues to head across central Florida today as a tropical storm.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet that “water is at least waist deep” in Orlavista, near Orlando. The agency’s emergency response crews assisted with rescues.

On the southwest coast, crews worked to clear roads in the Fort Myers area, and police reminded residents trying to return to their homes that a curfew is in place.

Ian is expected to regain near-hurricane strength after emerging over Atlantic waters near the Kennedy Space Center later in the day, with South Carolina in its sights for a second U.S. landfall.

With file from The Associated Press