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Mexico braces for hurricane fury Hurricane Dean hits Mexico coast
(40 minutes later)
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is being hit by driving winds and lashing rain as Hurricane Dean approaches landfall near the border with Belize. Hurricane Dean has struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near the border with Belize, bringing driving winds and lashing rain.
Authorities in both countries have boarded up tourist resorts and Mexico has shut down offshore oil facilities. Cancun and other tourists resorts are being spared a direct hit as the storm comes ashore near the city of Chetumal.
The storm has reached Category Five, the highest strength, with winds of up to 160mph (255km/h). Last-minute evacuations took place as the powerful storm was expected to bring a large surge of floodwaters.
Thousands of tourists have attempted to leave Cancun and other resorts, but some were unable to get on a flight. The Category Five storm - the highest strength - is moving steadily west with winds of up to 160mph (255km/h).
A storm surge of up to 18 feet (5.5 metres) is possible along the coast where Dean hits, said the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida.
The NHC also 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 Map
The tourists resorts have been boarded up and offshore oil facilities closed but there is concern for residents of poor communities living in flimsy homes.
Andrea Montalvo of the American Telemundo television network told the BBC that Chetumal and the nearby Mayan communities do not seem to be adequately protected.
"It's pretty impressive, because if the surge is the way it's forecast to be, which is four metres, the ocean should actually invade the city."
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 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.
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"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."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.
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.
View path of Hurricane Dean in more detailEnlarge Image
In Jamaica, it tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines as the storm's centre passed just south of the island.In Jamaica, it tore off roofs, uprooted trees and downed power lines as the storm's centre passed just south of the island.
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. 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.
At 2300 EDT (0300 GMT Tuesday), the centre of the storm was 150 miles (245km) east of Chetumal, Mexico, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said. Looting fears
It is due to make landfall in a sparsely populated marshy area near the Mexico-Belize border early on Tuesday.
The people who are there live in poorly built houses, so the damage for them is expected to be severe.
Highest level
The NHC said Dean had reached "potentially catastrophic" Category Five strength, with sustained winds of 160mph (255km/h) and a storm surge 18ft (5.5m) above normal tide levels.
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 United States since record-keeping began.
Jamaica was spared a direct hit but still badly damagedEnlarge Image
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 have boarded up their homes in preparedness for the storms.
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?
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 the remainder of its 14,350 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. The hurricane is on a path to head due west across the Yucatan Peninsula where it is expected to lose some strength before being re-energised as it hits sea again over the Bay of Campeche in the south-west Gulf of Mexico.
Daniel Brown, from the NHC, said the focus was now on other areas. It is due to hit Mexico's coast again in the state of Veracruz.
"It looks like the biggest threat is going to be for portions of northern Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula coast of Mexico," he said.
The hurricane is heading almost due west on a path across the Yucatan Peninsula.
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 in the state of Veracruz.
'A good beating''A good beating'
Dean caused widespread damage as it careered along the south coast of Jamaica. Dean has already caused widespread damage as it careered along the south coast of Jamaica.
In pictures: Nearing Mexico 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."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.
How hurricanes are tracked Dean's path of destruction
"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.
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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