No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaEvacuations, landslides and road damage reported in Costa Rica: Wednesday afternoon update

Evacuations, landslides and road damage reported in Costa Rica: Wednesday afternoon update

Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) says 588 people have been evacuated due to landslides and flooding related to Hurricane Eta, which made landfall in Nicaragua on Tuesday.

Eta, which has since weakened to a Tropical Storm, will indirectly cause heavy rainfall in many parts of Costa Rica until Friday, according to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN).

While 12 cantons across the entire Pacific region have established emergency shelters, Guanacaste has been the most significantly affected. According to the IMN, over the last three days, Guanacaste has already doubled its average rainfall for the entire month of November.

Similarly, the South Pacific has in three days reached its expected rainfall for November.

The North Pacific should prepare for persistent rain through Friday, while the Central and South Pacific will receive rain through Thursday. In addition, the Pacific Ocean will exhibit strong swells and currents over the coming days.

According to the CNE’s latest updates, issued Wednesday a 1 p.m. CST:

  • 588 people have been evacuated to 18 shelters across 12 cantons. This number is expected to increase Wednesday as rain batters the South Pacific.
  •  69 landslides have been reported across Costa Rica.
  • At least 520 adverse events related to the weather have been reported across 50 cantons. These include road obstructions, and people are advised against driving to areas that have been placed under an Orange Alert.

As of Wednesday morning, the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) reported the closure of Route 2 at Macho Mora de Páramo (Cerro de la Muerte), and restricted passage on Route 2 between Palmar Norte and Paso Real.

The following regions are under an Orange Alert due to heavy rainfall and saturated soils, which increase the risk of landslides and flooding:

  • The South Pacific.
  • The Central Pacific.
  • The North Pacific.
  • The northern canton of Upala, Alajuela.

The Central Valley and Huetar Norte region are under a Yellow Alert, which indicates residents of those regions should be prepared for increasing impacts of the weather event.

Tropical Storm Eta is moving west at 7 mph near Nicaragua’s border with Honduras. It is expected to regain strength, reenter the Caribbean Sea, and approach Cuba and then Florida.

Dial 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency in Costa Rica. English-speaking operators are available.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica Maintains Economic Stability Amid Global Tensions

Costa Rica is holding steady economically despite global tensions sparked by conflicts involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, according to Federico Quesada Chaves,...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...

Costa Rica’s Rare Birds at Risk as Human Activity Threatens Extinction

Costa Rica’s bare-necked umbrellabird, a striking black bird with a red throat pouch and crest, is in trouble. A new study in Nature Ecology...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica