Hurricane Dean heads for Mexico
Updated on 20 August 2007
Hurricane Dean is now set to sweep south of the Cayman Islands, towards the coast of Mexico.
Thousands of British tourists have packed into Cancun Airport to flee its arrival.
The category four storm's already caused destruction in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
Jamaica has taken a battering. It's here that the bulk of up to $3bn worth of insured losses are expected.
A month long state of emergency has been declared and the power company has shut down the electricity supply.
Although the authorities made shelters available, initially few people took up the offer. They wanted to protect their homes.
Police in Kingston say they shot and wounded two men who had been trying to break into business premises.
Seventeen fishermen and women are believed to be stranded on a small island chain to the south of Jamaica. Their fate is unknown.
Hurricane Dean is believed to have killed nine people across the Caribbean. And it's expected to get stronger.
Hurricane Dean is believed to have killed nine people across the Caribbean. And it's expected to get stronger.
Moving from a category four to a potentially catastrophic category five storm. The Cayman Islands may be next and then Mexico.
In Cancun the shops are emptying, with residents making their preparations. A few brave, or perhaps foolhardy, souls were still on the beach yesterday, ignoring the signals which said it's time to get out of the water.
The effect of Dean has also been felt beyond the confines of the earth's atmosphere.
The shuttle Endeavour has had to make its excuses, leaving the international space station a day early in case mission control in Houston is threatened by the hurricane.
