Rain prompts yellow, green alerts throughout Costa Rica (updated)

Update (8:20 p.m.): The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has expanded the alerts.

A yellow alert is now in effect for the Northern Pacific and the Northern Zone. The rest of Costa Rica is now under a green alert.

Original story below. 

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The National Emergency Commission (CNE) issued yellow and green alerts throughout much of Costa Rica on Monday due to heavy rains and soil saturation.

The Northern Zone, Central Valley, Central Pacific and Southern Pacific are all under a green alert, while the Northern Pacific is under a yellow alert.

“Over the last 24 hours, the accumulation of rainfall in Guanacaste has reached 268 mm, which caused several incidents in the Nicoya Peninsula,” the alert reads.

CNE recommends that people take precautions, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding due to sewer saturation and rising rivers, and in sectors with a high propensity for landslides. Abide by any official instructions and call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Drive carefully on the main routes of the Pacific and Central Valley, as the weather may cause deteriorations in road conditions.

In Ostional, on the Nicoya Peninsula, the rising river submerged a car but its occupants escaped safely, according to the Association of Ostional Guides.

Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute (IMN) predicts ongoing rain throughout the night in the North Pacific with rainfall accumulations up to 60 mm.