Costa Rica Loses US$10 million in Damages After Major Storms

Heavy showers in Costa Rica are costing the state millions of dollars as one city after another announces a red alert amid the continual downfall.

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TeleSur correspondent Fernando Francia tweeted Tuesday, "Nearly 10 million dollars in losses due to the emergency across Costa Rica. 

“Costa Rica maintains the red alert in some regions of the country and awaits the entry of the tropical wave number 17 this Wednesday may allow more rain. Floods and landslides have 300 closed educational centers and more than 1300 people affected,” Francia said.

Werner Stoltz, director of the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), told Diario Extra, "We can record that there are records of 350 millimeters accumulated in some sectors, that is equivalent to what can rain in a whole month and we had it in less than 7 hours on Friday night.”

President Carlos Alvarado, accompanied by National Emergency Commission (CNE) official, Alexander Solis, and geologist Lidier Esquivel, stated he will be overseeing an aerial assessment of the damages particularly those surrounding the Sarapiqui River, Matina Rivers, and the Matina Dam, a statement from the CNE said.

“Due to the severe damages in this communities and the forecast of more rains in the Caribbean and Northern Zone, we have intensified the attention and protection of the affected communities,” President Carlos Alvarado said Monday.

In a brief press release, the Emergency Operations Session Center assured that emergency teams are still active and are working tirelessly to assist with rescues and evacuations.

Among Costa Rica’s red alert zones are the cantons of Sarapiqui, Turrialba, Matina, and Talamanca.

A total of 16 landslides were registered with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. Over 15 thousand were affected by the floods, road closures, blackouts, and landslides. Some 1,563 citizens have taken refuge in the 21 temporary shelters, local media reports.

The IMN predicts rainfall to continue until Thursday.

Costa Rica remains on alert to the approaching tropical wave of heavy rains. The end result is severe flooding and landslides @temasteleSUR