Tropical Storm Ernesto has weakened to a tropical depression as it moves inland over Mexico, killing seven people and dumping rains in the mountains of Mexico’s flood-prone southern Gulf region.

Tropical Storm Ernesto has hit Mexico, killing two people as it moved inland and began drenching the flood-prone southern Gulf region.

Hurricane Ernesto has come ashore on Mexico’s Caribbean coast near the border with Belize, after hundreds of tourists left beach resorts and fishermen abandoned low-lying villages to avoid the threat.

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.