Hurricane Dean could turn from a category-four hurricane to the most powerful category five by the time it hits Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula tonight or tomorrow.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel to the peninsula and tour operators have been assisting visitors who wish to leave.
The first major hurricane of the season tore across southern Jamaica at the weekend, with winds of up to 145mph uprooting trees and telegraph poles and tearing roofs off buildings.
No tourists were reported injured, but the FCO advised against all travel to Jamaica for the time being.
Holidaymakers in and around Cancun in Mexico are being evacuated in preparation for the storm’s arrival tonight, with predictions of a storm surge and winds of up to 155 miles per hour.
Visitors to the Cayman Islands have also been moved to safe areas, although the storm is expected to bypass the islands to the south during today.
- Updates from the US National Hurricane Center