Hurricane Ian made landfall along the southwestern coast of Florida, USA, as a powerful category 4 storm, this afternoon (September 28).

According to reports from international media, Ian is one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

The extremely dangerous conditions that this hurricane is unleashing — including catastrophic floods and life-threatening storm surge — will continue as the storm advances inland.

At 5 p m US time, the National Hurricane Center update, noted that storm warnings have expanded to North Carolina.

About 1.3 million customers in Florida are without power.

The center of Ian is forecast to move over central Florida tonight into tomorrow morning (September 29) and emerge over the western Atlantic, by tomorrow evening.

Meantime, a boat carrying migrants reportedly sank, just hours before Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, today.

About 23 people from the vessel are missing.

The United States Border Patrol said three people were rescued and four people on the boat were able to swim to shore.

Their vessel sank due to inclement weather.

And, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith said prayers go out for persons in Cuba and the United States affected by Hurricane Ian.

In a post on Twitter, she said where communication channels allow in Cuba the ministry is monitoring its staff and community through the embassy in Havana.

She said as at last night there was no report of Jamaican casualty.

The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that, while the consulate in Miami, is monitoring the situation with Ian, the office is closed.

The Ministry earlier encouraged members of the Jamaican community in Florida to closely monitor official u-s government information and guidance, regarding evacuation and shelters.