Hurricane Sandy to mantain intense rains until Friday

The influence of Hurricane Sandy in Costa Rica is now visible: Torrential rains from Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday caused landslides and a partial collapse of the Inter-American Highway in the southern region.

According to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), cumulative rainfall is up to 140 mm, which is five times more than that reported on a typical day of the rainy season.

Sandy evolved into a hurricane on Wednesday and is heading towards Jamaica at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour.

Damage and debris on the Inter-American Highway forced the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) to restrict traffic at two points on the route.

“Heavy rains make it impossible to begin repairs to the collapsed area, and we’re still evaluating what work is needed and the time it will take to complete,” MOPT officials said in a press release.

As an alternate route to get to the southern region, MOPT recommends Route 34, the Costanera Sur.

IMN experts predict that intense rains will affect the country through Friday, and they have issued a preventive alert for residents on the Pacific coast and in the Central Valley.