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Hurricane Dean hits Mexico coast Hurricane Dean hits Mexico coast
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Dean has struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near the border with Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain.Hurricane Dean has struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near the border with Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain.
Cancun and other tourist resorts were spared a direct hit as the storm came ashore at 0330 (0830 GMT) about 40 miles (65km) north-east of Chetumal.Cancun and other tourist resorts were spared a direct hit as the storm came ashore at 0330 (0830 GMT) about 40 miles (65km) north-east of Chetumal.
The Category Five storm - the highest strength - is moving steadily west with winds of up to 160mph (255km/h). The storm has weakened to Category Three, with winds of 125mph (205km/h) as it crosses land.
It is pushing a large surge of water that could flood coastal communities. It could strengthen when it hits sea again after crossing the Yucatan.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida said the eye of the storm had made landfall near the town of Majahual.The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida said the eye of the storm had made landfall near the town of Majahual.
At 1200 GMT the centre of the storm had moved inland about 40 miles (65km) north-west of Chetumal, travelling west at about 20mph (62km/h).
'Windows shattered''Windows shattered'
Last-minute evacuations took place along the coast as the powerful storm was expected to bring a flood surge of up to 18 feet (5.5m). Last-minute evacuations took place along the coast as Dean was expected to bring a heavy flood surge.
The NHC said the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize as well as Guatemala and northern Honduras could expect heavy rainfall which could cause flash floods and landslides.
View path of Hurricane Dean in more detailEnlarge MapView path of Hurricane Dean in more detailEnlarge Map
The NHC said the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize as well as Guatemala and northern Honduras could expect heavy rainfall which could cause flash floods and landslides.
Tens of thousands of tourists have been evacuated from resorts in the Yucatan but many others are still there, huddling in shelters.Tens of thousands of tourists have been evacuated from resorts in the Yucatan but many others are still there, huddling in shelters.
The resorts have been boarded up and offshore oil facilities are closed but there is concern for residents of poor communities living in flimsy homes.The resorts have been boarded up and offshore oil facilities are closed but there is concern for residents of poor communities living in flimsy homes.
Andrea Montalvo, of the US-based Spanish-language Telemundo television network, said the storm was wreaking havoc in the Mexican city of Chetumal.Andrea Montalvo, of the US-based Spanish-language Telemundo television network, said the storm was wreaking havoc in the Mexican city of Chetumal.
"Inside the hotel it is really bad, every 10 or 15 minutes you can hear windows shattering and people are coming out of their rooms in panic," she said."Inside the hotel it is really bad, every 10 or 15 minutes you can hear windows shattering and people are coming out of their rooms in panic," she said.
"Some people have been moved to schools on higher ground, but if this is how it is here in this hotel, which is pretty solid, I don't want to think about how it is there."
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She said the shelters in Chetumal and surrounding areas did not seem well prepared and had holes in the walls and no food or water.
City officials said there were power outages as the wind knocked over trees and sent debris flying through the air.City officials said there were power outages as the wind knocked over trees and sent debris flying through the air.
Ernesto Calzada from Quintana Roo radio and TV told the BBC: "I looked out of my office window and saw an enormous tree close by topple over."
Further south, in Belize City, officials closed the hospitals and urged people to head inland, saying the town's shelters were not strong enough to withstand the hurricane.Further south, in Belize City, officials closed the hospitals and urged people to head inland, saying the town's shelters were not strong enough to withstand the hurricane.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who is attending a summit of the North American Free Trade Agreement, said that he would leave on Tuesday after a trilateral meeting with his US and Canadian counterparts. Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who is attending a trade summit in Canada, said that he would leave on Tuesday after a meeting with his US and Canadian counterparts.
"I have decided to suspend my official visit to Canada and personally head the tasks for the protection of the population in case of disasters," said Mr Calderon.
Looting fearsLooting fears
The hurricane has already claimed at least 11 lives in the eastern Caribbean, but largely spared the low-lying Cayman Islands on Monday.The hurricane has already claimed at least 11 lives in the eastern Caribbean, but largely spared the low-lying Cayman Islands on Monday.
In Jamaica, it tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines as the storm's centre passed just south of the island.
Jamaica was spared a direct hit but still badly damagedEnlarge ImageJamaica was spared a direct hit but still badly damagedEnlarge Image
Cancun and other popular Mexican resorts are escaping a "direct hit" but that has not stopped around two-thirds of Cancun's tourists leaving the area.Cancun and other popular Mexican resorts are escaping a "direct hit" but that has not stopped around two-thirds of Cancun's tourists leaving the area.
Some holidaymakers camped overnight at Cancun's airport to find a flight while others were turned away.Some holidaymakers camped overnight at Cancun's airport to find a flight while others were turned away.
Police officers have been deployed to prevent looting while residents have boarded up their homes in preparedness for the storms. Police officers have been deployed to prevent looting while residents boarded up their homes ahead of the storm.
Mexico's state-oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, has evacuated the remainder of its 14,350 workers and shut down production on the offshore rigs. Mexico's state-oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, has evacuated its workers and shut down production on the offshore rigs.
Less damaging The hurricane is moving steadily west over the Yucatan and may regain strength when it hits sea again over the Bay of Campeche on Tuesday night, the NHC said.
The hurricane is moving steadily west at about 20mph (32km/h) and is expected to lose some strength across the Yucatan Peninsula before being re-energised as it hits sea again over the Bay of Campeche on Tuesday night, the NHC said.
How hurricanes are tracked Dean's path of destructionHow hurricanes are tracked Dean's path of destruction
It is due to hit Mexico's coast for a second time near Tampico in the state of Veracruz.It is due to hit Mexico's coast for a second time near Tampico in the state of Veracruz.
Dean is expected to be less damaging than the Category Five Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which lingered over the Yucatan for a day, killing 10 people and wrecking large areas of Cancun.Dean is expected to be less damaging than the Category Five Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which lingered over the Yucatan for a day, killing 10 people and wrecking large areas of Cancun.
Category Five storms are rare - only three have hit the United States since record-keeping began. Category Five storms are rare - only three have hit the US since record-keeping began.
In the US, the return of the space shuttle Endeavour was brought forward by a day, to Tuesday, in an attempt to beat the hurricane should it eventually reach Texas, where Nasa's mission control is based.In the US, the return of the space shuttle Endeavour was brought forward by a day, to Tuesday, in an attempt to beat the hurricane should it eventually reach Texas, where Nasa's mission control is based.
Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean or are you preparing for it to pass? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by Hurricane Dean or are you preparing for it to pass? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Find out more about how to send your pictures and to read terms and conditionsFind out more about how to send your pictures and to read terms and conditions
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