Seven People Drown This Week in Rivers

Four adults and three children drowned this week in two separate incidents in Costa Rican rivers.

Three adults drowned Sunday while saving two children from drowning in the Savegre River, in the southern mountainous village of San Gerardo de Dota, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Noemi Coto.

Carlos Manuel Ortiz, 54, and his wife Susan Marie Pérez, 46, along with the German resident Kai Carpenski, 31, jumped into the river to help the couple’s two children, who had become trapped underneath a waterfall.

The three adults were able to save the children before drowning themselves.

Four other people drowned Tuesday while swimming in the Sarapiquí River in north-central Costa Rica. Adela Alvarez, 62, was swimming with her granddaughter, Fiorella Araya, 8, and neighbors Melissa Ugalde, 6, and Stephanie Carmona, 9, when all four drowned after being swept under water by a strong current, according to the Red Cross. Heavy rains in the Sarapiquí area this week resulted in quickly rising water levels, making swimming holes dangerous.

So far in 2006, 13 people have drowned in rivers and two in the ocean in Costa Rica, according to the Red Cross.

So far in 2006, 13 people have drowned in rivers and two in the ocean in Costa Rica, according to the Red Cross.