Hurricane Dean limped across Mexico today as a weakened tropical depression, but still dumped torrential rains that flooded rivers and drenched mudslide-prone mountains.

A sprawling Hurricane Dean slammed into Mexico for the second time in as many days and quickly stretched across to the Pacific Ocean, drenching the central mountains with rain that swelled rivers before weakening into a tropical storm.

Hurricane Dean raked the Mexican mainland Wednesday and battered evacuated oil platforms, forcing thousands to flee as it regained some of the force it unleashed on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Hurricane Dean swept across the Yucatan peninsula, toppling trees, power lines and houses as it bore down on the heart of Mexico’s oil industry.

Space shuttle Endeavour touched down in Florida today as it returned former teacher Barbara Morgan and six other crew to Earth following their mission to the international space station.

Jamaica's Electoral Commission today postponed the nation's August 27 general elections until an assessment of damage from Hurricane Dean is completed.

Thousands of tourists were confined to their hotel rooms today, sheltering from high winds and driving rain as Hurricane Dean tore into Mexico.

The US National Hurricane Centre says Hurricane Dean had weakened to a Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 125 mph.

Oil prices dropped back for the second day today as fears over the potential damage from Hurricane Dean on US oil production eased.

Hurricane Dean ploughed into the Caribbean coast of Mexico today as a roaring Category 5 hurricane, lashing ancient Mayan ruins and heading for modern oil installations.

Hurricane Dean strengthened into a 160mph Category 5 storm capable of catastrophic damage today, as its first rain and winds began hitting the coasts of Mexico and Belize.

Wall Street closed mostly higher today as investors appeared relieved that more bad news did not emerge about risky mortgages and shrinking credit markets. Investors seeking safety pressed into shorter-term Treasurys.

The FTSE 100 Index finished moderately higher after an unconvincing session for world markets today.

Travelers by the thousands flew out of the Mexican resort Cancun ahead of menacing Hurricane Dean today.

The Irish Travel Agents' Association is advising Irish tourists in the Caribbean to stay informed about the current hurricane situation in the region.

Cayman Islands imposed a curfew and evacuated tourists as the British territory today faced Hurricane Dean, a powerful storm leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean.

Officials in the US state of Texas are today preparing for Hurricane Dean.

SPACE shuttle Endeavour undocked from the international space station a day early yesterday, as NASA kept a wary eye on Hurricane Dean.

AS YOU read this the people of Jamaica will be counting the cost of Hurricane Dean and others on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico will be braced for what is expected to be an even greater onslaught from that source.

Jamaicans headed inland and tourists fled the country as the powerful Hurricane Dean appeared poised to make a direct hit on the island after a deadly and destructive march across the eastern Caribbean.

Alarmed tourists jammed Caribbean airports for flights out of Hurricane Dean’s path as the storm threatened to engulf Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour and the international space station today prepared for the last spacewalk of their joint mission, an outing that was scaled back because of Hurricane Dean.

Hurricane Dean barrelled across the eastern Caribbean today and took aim at Hispaniola, Jamaica and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, with forecasters saying it could turn into a monster Category 5 storm within 72 hours.

Hurricane Dean roared through small Caribbean islands today, tearing away roofs, flooding streets and killing three people.

Recovery efforts were in full swing today as water-logged Texas dealt with the rainy remnants of Tropical Storm Erin, which authorities blamed for at least four deaths and said could be a prelude to

Hurricane Dean is heading towards Caribbean islands today with 100mph winds.