Travel Alert: Two new landslides block Route 32 to Caribbean

Vehicle passage on Route 32, the main highway connecting Costa Rica’s capital San José with the Caribbean province of Limón, was again blocked Monday after heavy rains caused two landslides, the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) reported.

At around 8:30 a.m. MOPT informed that it had closed the route as a preventive measure due to the large amount of water falling on various sections of the highway.

The ministry planned to reopen the route as soon as rainfall started to decrease, however about an hour later Traffic Police officials reported that two landslides had blocked the road at kilometers 25 and 41. Access to Limón via Route 126 in Vara Blanca is also closed due to landslides from last week.

MOPT and National Roadway Council staff are on site working to remove the debris. Currently the only alternate road available is Route 10 between Turrialba and Siquirres.

This is the third closure of Route 32 since heavy rains began affecting the Caribbean region in mid-June.

The National Meteorological Institute forecasts heavy rains will continue hitting the area throughout the day and likely into the night. Officials from the National Emergency Commission are calling on the populations of Limón, the eastern part of Cartago province and the northern part of Heredia province to remain alert.