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Mexico coast braces for hurricane Mexico coast braces for hurricane
(about 4 hours later)
Mexico is bracing itself for the impact of Hurricane Dean after the storm battered Jamaica. The Mexican authorities have evacuated tourist resorts and shut down off-shore oil facilities ahead of the potentially devastating arrival of Hurricane Dean.
Winds of up to 150mph (240km/h) tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines in Jamaica as the storm's centre passed just south of the island. Thousands of tourists attempted to leave the resort of Cancun, but some were unable to get a flight.
Experts say Dean could get stronger still. It is expected to hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula late on Monday. Neighbouring Belize is also bracing itself for the hurricane, which is registering winds of 150mph (240km/h).
But authorities in the Cayman Islands said the territory had been spared the brunt of the hurricane. Forecasters think Dean may get even stronger before it reaches Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula overnight.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of Belize and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Belize City north to Cancun. The storm has already claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean - but largely spared the Cayman islands earlier on Monday.
Although the Cayman Islands were bracing themselves for severe winds, the hurricane's eye passed 100 miles (160km) south of the islands. The strongest gusts measured just 57mph (92kph). In Jamaica, it tore off roofs, uprooted trees and destroyed power lines as the storm's centre passed just south of the island.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1187625268/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1187625268/html/1.stm', '1187625321', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=328,left=312,top=100'); return false;">View path of Hurricane Dean in more detail href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1187625268/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1187625268/html/1.stm', '1187625321', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=328,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map Daniel Brown, from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), said the focus was now on other areas. Looting fear
Experts believe that Cancun and other popular Mexican resorts will not suffer a "direct hit" but that has not stopped around two-thirds of Cancun's tourists leaving the area.
We are all boarded up sitting in the front room listening to the local radio and drinking wine Nick WilkinsBBC News website readerGeorge Town, Grand Cayman Dean: Readers' updates Send us your comments Dean: Where next?
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Dean, already "extremely dangerous", may reach Category Five strength in the coming hours, with sustained winds greater than 155mph (249km/h) and a storm surge 18ft (5.5m) above normal tide levels.
Some holidaymakers camped overnight at the Cancun airport to get 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.
Mexico's state-oil company, Petroleos de Mexico, has evacuated the remainder of its 14,354 workers and shut down production on the offshore rigs.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of Belize and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Belize City to Cancun.
View path of Hurricane Dean in more detailEnlarge Map
Daniel Brown, from the NHC, said the focus was now on other areas.
"It looks like the biggest threat is going to be for portions of northern Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula coast of Mexico," he said."It looks like the biggest threat is going to be for portions of northern Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula coast of Mexico," he said.
At 0800 EDT (1200 GMT) the storm was about 440 miles (710km) east of Belize City, in Belize, which borders Mexico, and moving at nearly 21mph (33km/h). At 2 pm EDT (1800 GMT), Dean was located about 330 miles (530 km) east of Belize City, the largest city in Belize, which borders Mexico.
The hurricane is heading west and is expected to move slightly north-westwards across the Yucatan Peninsula, the NHC said.The hurricane is heading west and is expected to move slightly north-westwards across the Yucatan Peninsula, the NHC said.
After crossing the Yucatan, the storm is forecast to move over the Bay of Campeche in the south-west Gulf of Mexico, before striking Mexico's coast again near Tampico.After crossing the Yucatan, the storm is forecast to move over the Bay of Campeche in the south-west Gulf of Mexico, before striking Mexico's coast again near Tampico.
'A good beating' Shuttle rescheduled
The NHC said Dean, already "extremely dangerous", may reach Category Five strength within the next 24 hours, with sustained winds greater than 155mph (249km/h) and a storm surge 18ft (5.5m) above normal tide levels. Dean caused widespread damage as it careered along the south coast of Jamaica.
We are all boarded up sitting in the front room listening to the local radio and drinking wine Nick WilkinsBBC News website readerGeorge Town, Grand Cayman Dean: Readers' updates Send us your comments Dean: Where next?
In Cancun and other resorts on the Yucatan, windows have been boarded up and thousands of tourists have been moved out or turned away.
The resort's airport was packed with tourists trying to get away while the normally busy areas were virtually empty.
Workers have also been evacuated from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and officials in southern Texas have urged residents to leave the area.
Dean has already claimed at least six lives in the eastern Caribbean.
The eye of the storm was some miles out to sea as it passed by Jamaica, but it still caused widespread damage as it careered along the south coast.
"I took a journey onto the streets of Kingston and saw huge trees, massive mango trees, coconut trees that have blocked the roads," said Kathy Barrett from Radio Jamaica.
In pictures: Hurricane Dean How hurricanes are tracked Dean's path of destructionIn pictures: Hurricane Dean How hurricanes are tracked Dean's path of destruction
"I took a journey onto the streets of Kingston and saw huge trees, massive mango trees, coconut trees that have blocked the roads," said Kathy Barrett from Radio Jamaica.
"Power lines are down, it really has been - we got a good beating from Hurricane Dean.""Power lines are down, it really has been - we got a good beating from Hurricane Dean."
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller declared a month-long state of emergency, widening the powers of security forces.Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller declared a month-long state of emergency, widening the powers of security forces.
A general election is due to take place on 27 August, but the storm has cast doubt on that date.A general election is due to take place on 27 August, but the storm has cast doubt on that date.
Shuttle re-scheduled
When the hurricane passed through eastern parts of the Caribbean at the weekend rough waves damaged buildings on the coast of the Dominican Republic and thousands of people were left without electricity and took refuge in schools and churches on the Haitian island of Gonave.
Six deaths have been confirmed as a result of Dean:
  • A boy was swept out to sea and drowned in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo
  • In Martinique, a woman in her early 80s died of a suspected heart attack during the hurricane's passage while a man died after sustaining a fall
  • In Dominica, a landslide crushed a woman and her seven-year-old son while they slept in their home
  • A man aged 62 was swept away and drowned in St Lucia when he tried to retrieve a cow from a rain-swollen river
    • 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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