No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rican capital hit by heavy rains, flash floods

Costa Rican capital hit by heavy rains, flash floods

The rainy season might be on its way out but it certainly wanted leave us with something to remember. Thunderstorms doused the San José metro area Tuesday causing severe flooding across several parts of the city.

Red Cross spokesman Gerald Jiménez told The Tico Times that the neighborhoods of Los Yoses, San Pedro, Montes de Oca and Desamparados were among the hardest hit by the rains. Barrio Luján, Río Ocloro, Zapote, Rohrmoser, Pavas, Tibás and León XIII also saw streets and some homes inundated.

A flash flood in Barrio Luján was so strong that it sent trucks and cars floating down the road:

Jiménez said that Red Cross responders rescued several people from flooded homes. In the area of the Carlos Durán Red Cross responders rescued seven adults and five children. An elderly person being evacuated from a flooded home there fell and was sent to a hospital, Jiménez said. Responders in Barrio Cuba rescued 15 people, he said.

Rains and flooded streets snarled traffic from Escazú to Heredia and Curridabat. Some cars and buses tried to ford high waters in Los Yoses leading to San Pedro Mall, as captured in this video posted by RutaAltera.org:

Even high spots in the city, like Parque Morazán, saw flooded streets.

It was only a month ago that localized flooding in Barrio Chino in downtown San José blocked 2nd Avenue and flooded shops.

Tico social media tried to be a good sport about the floods. This Twitter user joked that he was Uber’s newest driver along with his boat. “I’m at your service,” he tweeted.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Tourism Growth Masks Warning Sign at San José Airport

The San Jose airport recorded a drop in international tourist arrivals in May, even as Costa Rica’s overall air tourism numbers continued to grow,...

Costa Rica Faces Hotter Weekend as Sahara Dust Reduces Rainfall

A plume of Saharan dust is helping bring hotter, drier and hazier weather to Costa Rica this weekend, with forecasters warning of reduced rainfall,...

Costa Rica’s Largest Drug Operation Heads To Court

Costa Rica's largest-ever anti-narcotics operation moved from raids into the courtroom as prosecutors said they would seek preventive detention and other precautionary measures against...

Wimbledon 2026 Draw Sets Tough Paths for Fonseca, Cerúndolo and Maia

Wimbledon’s 2026 draw gave Latin tennis a little bit of everything Friday: opportunity, danger, star power and one major absence. Brazil’s João Fonseca and...

How to Skip the July Traffic to Guanacaste by Flying From San José

Every mid-year school break, the same scene plays out on Ruta 1: thousands of families pointing their cars toward Guanacaste's beaches, and a drive...

Costa Rica’s Water Crisis Deepens as AyA Loses Half Its Supply

Costa Rica’s national water utility is under renewed scrutiny after officials warned that more than half of the water produced by the Instituto Costarricense...

Poachers Threaten One of Costa Rica’s Best-Known Wildlife Refuges

One of the Nicoya Peninsula’s best-known wildlife destinations is facing renewed pressure from illegal hunters, after camera traps placed inside or near Refugio Nacional...

Panama Eliminated From World Cup After 2-0 Loss to England

Panama’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign came to an end Saturday after a 2-0 loss to England in its final Group L match, leaving...

Costa Rica Cuts Tolls on Main Road to Jacó and Central Pacific

Drivers heading from San José toward Costa Rica’s central Pacific will pay slightly less on Route 27 starting July 1, when new toll rates...
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel