Seven of 10 oil workers missing in the Gulf of Mexico were found alive, according to Mexico’s state oil company, three days after evacuating their disabled rig in a tropical storm and escaping in an enclosed life raft.

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.

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

MEXICAN Air Force pilots filmed 11 unidentified flying objects in the skies over southern Campeche state, the Mexican Defence Department has confirmed.