Rainy weekend causes flooding, landslides in Costa Rica

The National Emergency Commission, or CNE, declared a Green (informative) Alert for all of Costa Rica over the weekend due to heavy rains. As of Monday morning, the alert was still in place.

During the weekend, at least 27 incidents were reported around Costa Rica. Various landslides took place in Alajuela, Grecia, Naranjo, Pérez Zeledón, and San José, while flooding was reported in areas including Los Chiles, Naranjo, Poás, San Carlos, San Ramón, Coto Brus, Buenos Aires, Pococí, La Unión de Tres Ríos, Parrita, Quepos, Turrubares and Desamparados, according to statements from the CNE.

Commission President Alexander Solís activated several Municipal Emergency Committees throughout the country to deal with the impact of the rains. Two emergency shelters received eight people in Desamparados and nine in Naranjo.

Costa Rica’s rainy season typically lasts from May to November. This year, an unusually dry early May in the Central Valley gave way to heavy downpours over the past week.