Accidents and assaults have claimed the lives of 25 people so far this Semana Santa, according to a report released by the Costa Rican Red Cross. As of Friday, 65 others had been taken to the hospital in serious condition.
With so many cars on the highway, driving accidents are the most frequent cause of death during the Easter Holy Week. Eight people were killed in collisions and rollovers. Four people were run over this week.
The Red Cross made 20 water rescues from the country’s beach this week and recovered seven drowned bodies, including the body of 18-year-old Felipe Castro Espinoza, the nephew of current Environment Minister René Castro. Three of the drowning victims were children.
Three more deaths were attributed to gunshot wounds. Two deaths were unknown, and one was listed as a traumatic emergency, according to the Red Cross.
The Red Cross anticipates more road woes as people travel back home from vacation. The organization’s medical teams will remain on high alert through Sunday with 1,200 medics on duty at 162 posts throughout the country.
