Dean continues to batter Mexico

Dean continues to batter Mexico

Thousands of people are in temporary shelters

Mexico is braced for more flooding, landslides and high winds as stormy weather caused by Hurricane Dean continues to move westwards.

At least eight people have died since Dean, now downgraded to a tropical depression, brought gusts of up to 165mph (270km/h) to Mexico's coast.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has visited two of the worst-affected states, Veracruz and Hidalgo.

In these states, more than 60,000 people are in temporary shelters.

Mr Calderon praised what he called the unity and co-ordination demonstrated by the authorities and citizens as they dealt with the storm.

But in Hidalgo state, more than 1,000 police officers were deployed to the town of Tulancingo, following reports of looting after thousands of people fled their flooded homes and businesses.