HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeHeavy rains on Sunday flood 12 Costa Rican cantons

Heavy rains on Sunday flood 12 Costa Rican cantons

Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) on Sunday responded to 100 separate incidents of flooding caused by heavy rains that hit most of the country during the evening.

CNE’s press spokeswoman Rebeca Madrigal said most cases were caused by flooding rivers and outdated sewer systems.

Floods occurred in 12 cantons across the country, according to a report on Monday morning. The most serious occurred in La Unión, Cartago, east of the capital, where a swelling river forced 60 people from two communities to evacuate their homes.

A total of 45 families were relocated to a temporary shelter in a public school in Santiago de El Monte, in that canton.

Rains also triggered landslides and floodings in Santo Domingo, Heredia, north of San José, where a tree fell on a street in Los Angeles and blocked traffic for several hours.

In Acosta, south of San José, several streets also were blocked by mud from landslides.

Madrigal said there are no reports of injuries or serious damage to homes and buildings.

CNE personnel on Monday conducted on-the-ground inspections of the affected communities.

October usually has the most severe showers in Costa Rica during the rainy season, which runs from May to November and is expected to end in a few weeks.

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L. Arias
L. Arias
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