No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCentral AmericaHurricane Iota, maximum Category 5 strength, makes landfall in Nicaragua

Hurricane Iota, maximum Category 5 strength, makes landfall in Nicaragua

Iota made landfall Monday on Nicaragua’s northern Caribbean coast as a maximum Category 5 hurricane, accompanied by catastrophic winds, rain and storm surge, a top meteorological official said.

“This powerful hurricane Iota is already on the front line, it’s already on land. At the moment, the eye of the hurricane is already touching the border of the Haulover coast” in the Caribbean, Marcio Baca, director of meteorology at the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER), told a press conference.

Iota eyewall over Nicaragua

The western eyewall of Iota is “over Nicaragua,” the U.S.-based National Hurricane Center said Monday night.

“Catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rainfall occurring in Central America,” the NHC reported.

“This remains a catastrophic situation for northeastern Nicaragua with an extreme storm surge of 15-20 ft forecast along with destructive winds and potentially 30 inches of rainfall, and it is exacerbated by the fact that it should make landfall in almost the exact same location that category 4 Hurricane Eta did a little less than two weeks ago.”

Costa Rica expresses ‘solidarity’

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado on Monday issued a message in support of Nicaragua and other Central American countries.

“Our solidarity with our Nicaraguan, Honduran and Salvadoran brothers,” he wrote, hours after meeting with presidents of those nations in an effort to coordinate international aid.

Costa Rica will suffer indirect effects from Iota, which will include increased rainfall in the Pacific regions over the course of the week.

“I stay in constant communication with the president of the CNE to support and promote actions to alert and assist the population,” Alvarado said. “The institutions are still working in the areas impacted by Eta, so we cannot lower our guard.

“We must be prepared in the areas of greatest vulnerability: the entire Pacific and North Zone of the country.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Tourism Sector Alarmed Over Rising Violence and U.S. Criticism

Tourism leaders in Costa Rica are warning that rising crime and international criticism could damage the country’s reputation as one of Latin America’s safest...

Former Zoo to Become Costa Rica’s First Urban Natural Park

Simón Bolívar Park, in San José, will be the first space in the country to become an Urban Natural Park. The project, led by...

Honduras Community Demands Justice in Environmental Murder Case

Three defendants accused of murdering an environmental activist in Honduras 11 months ago appeared before a court this Thursday for a preliminary hearing, the...

Costa Rica’s Sibö Chocolate Wins Bronze at Int’l Awards

Chocolate Sibö once again stood out at the International Chocolate Awards, the largest fine chocolate competition based in New York. The Costa Rican brand...

Mexico Battles Wildfire Damage with Drone-Based Reforestation

Authorities in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, are using drones to scatter seeds from the air in an effort to reforest hundreds...

Costa Rica Drivers Face Yearlong Delays as Tárcoles Bridge Undergoes Repairs

Those who frequently use the South Coast Highway, near the Tárcoles river, will have to be more patient.  Repair works have started on the...
spot_img
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