icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
21 Aug, 2007 05:03

Hurricane Dean tops category five

Hurricane-force winds and rain are striking the coast of Mexico. Tourists in beach resorts were evacuated ahead of the arrival of the dangerous category five Hurricane Dean.

The storm, which has now has gained winds of around 260 kilometers per hour has already claimed more than 12 lives in the Eastern Caribbean.

Tens of thousands of tourists have fled Mexican beach resorts as Hurricane Dean continues its devastating journey towards the Yucatan Peninsula.  Although the popular resort of Cancun is forecast to be spared a direct hit, it hasn’t stopped around two-thirds of visitors from leaving. Some even camped at the city's airport to ensure a flight out, while others take it all in their stride. 

The Jamaican capital of Kingston has started a massive clean-up operation. The hurricane lashed the island’s South coast, triggering floods and ripping off roofs leaving some homes destroyed.

After passing Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Monday, the storm hit warmer waters strengthening to a category five- the highest possible status.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre predicts the biggest threat is going to be for areas of Northern Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula coast of Mexico.

“The truth is that we've been here in this area for many years. We have had a lot of hurricanes, including Gilberto, Emily and Wilma. And this one, they say, is dangerous but we're ready for it,” Melkiaris Poot, a local resident, says.

In neighbouring Belize authorities are urging residents to leave, saying Dean is too strong for their shelters.

On the American side of the Gulf of Mexico, cities along the coast are also battening down.

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0