200 kph winds have lashed the region

Britain is sending warships to help its former colony.

In Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras the task of reconstruction is underway.

Danger not over

The United States National Weather Service says Keith, at one point a powerful category four hurricane, has quietened down to a tropical depression.

But it warned that its rains were still capable of producing life-threatening flash floods and mud slides in Mexico and elsewhere in the region.

At its strongest, Hurricane Keith destroyed bridges and houses and swept away roads.

People from Panama all the way north to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula were forced to leave home.

Nicaragua, still blighted by Hurricane Mitch two years ago, suffered the worst from Keith. Five people died and thousands were cut off or made homeless.

Nicaragua - thousands homeless

Three disaster areas in Belize - Belize City, Orange Walk and Corazal in the north - are all under water. Athough the rains have eased, forecasters say the flooding will continue for a few days more.

Rescuers are hoping to evacuate residents from the tourist resorts on the islands of San Pedro and Kikulka.

Financial aid

The BBC Central America correspondent, Peter Greste, says Belize is one of the poorest countries in the region and it may well need significant financial support to help it recover.

Guatemala has declared a red alert along its northern border with Belize.

Mexico's state oil monopoly, Petroleos Mexicanos, has said it will restart operations west of the Yucatan Peninsula. Over the weekend it closed down operations, evacuating more than 6,000 staff.

At its height Hurricane Keith was one of the fiercest storms to pass through the Caribbean this year generating winds of over 200kph.