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Dean to Make Last Stand

Storm strong on course to return to Mexico

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2007 9:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Hurricane Dean gathered serious strength in preparation for its final landfall in the Mexican city of Tuxpan later today, and its 90mph winds may increase further before touchdown. The storm smashed the Yucatan yesterday, then moved across the Bay of Campeche and its oil rigs, which were evacuated ahead of the storm, the Miami Herald reports.

Floods have swamped the Yucatan, and the 135,000 people of Tuxpan braced for disaster as the storm gained strength by moving from land to water. Thousands have already fled low-lying areas. The mountainous regions of Mexico and Guatemala are also vulnerable to Dean’s final assault, and mudslides and flash floods may be in the cards.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

This image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Dean at 12 (Associated Press)

A soldier checks a destroyed house after Hurricane Dean passed in Majahual, southeastern Mexico in the Yucatan peninsula, Tuesday, Aug. 21 2007. The eye of the storm made landfall near Majahual, a popular... (Associated Press)

A woman covers herself with a plastic poncho while walking in heavy rains in Sabancuy, Mexico, in the Yucatan peninsula Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, as Hurricane Dean passes. Hurricane Dean swept across the... (Associated Press)

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HURRICANE DEAN headed for BAY OF CAMPECHE (grandcentralterminal (YouTube))

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Dean to Make Last Stand