Five dead in Costa Rica rafting accident

Four U.S. tourists and a fifth Costa Rican were killed after a river rafting accident on Saturday, the Red Cross said.

The alarm was raised Saturday afternoon following the accident in a swollen river on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Alexander Morales of the Red Cross told AFP.

“Fourteen tourists and three guides on board three rafts, and a kayaker, were on the Naranjito river in Quepos, Puntarenas when the accident occurred,” Alexander Morales told AFP.

Another spokesman, Johnny Zamora, confirmed the victims had yet to be identified.

Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado expressed his “dismay” at the incident and said in a statement that he had instructed authorities to provide all necessary support to the victims’ families.

The statement added that Costa Rica’s foreign ministry has been in communication with the U.S. consulate in the capital San José.

Rafting is hugely popular with tourists in Costa Rica, which is currently in its wet season, causing waterways to flood.