Three people remain missing after strong currents swept them away in two separate incidents today, one at a waterfall in the Los Santos region south of San José and the others at a beach in Guanacaste, according to the Costa Rican Red Cross. A fourth person, a woman, was rescued in Sarapiquí after floodwaters carried her off an overflowing bridge.
The first emergency was reported at 1:35 p.m. at the Los Reyes waterfall in San Lorenzo de Tarrazú, where an adult man was reportedly dragged away by the current. The Red Cross sent a first-response unit, a rescue team, basic life support ambulances and specialized divers to the site.
At 6:35 p.m., the Red Cross said it had suspended the search because of poor weather in the area and rescuers had not located the man. The search is set to resume early Sunday, depending on conditions at the site. At 5:43 p.m., a second alert came in from Playa Cabuyal in Liberia, Guanacaste, where two adults were pulled out by the curren and remain missing. The Red Cross said the weather prevented crews from searching overnight, and operations will restart at first light.
The last rescue took place around 6:15 p.m. in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Heredia when a woman tried to cross a flooded bridge on a motorcycle after heavy afternoon rain swelled the river, and the current swept her away. The Red Cross were able to get to her and bring her to safety, however, they have not released the identities or nationalities of the other three missing people.
The incidents came as Tropical Wave 47 crossed, bringing heavy downpours and thunderstorms to much of Costa Rica this afternoon. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) recorded up to 125 millimeters (4.9 inches) of rain at Laguna de Fraijanes. More storms are expected tomorrow and the IMN forecasts that instability left behind by the wave will produce isolated to scattered downpours and thunderstorms in the afternoon across the Pacific, the Central Valley, the Northern Zone and the Caribbean mountains.
Always keep in mind, fivers and waterfalls can rise within minutes when rain falls upstream, even where skies are clear. Swimming in rivers and pools below waterfalls is most dangerous during and after afternoon storms, and flooded roads and bridges should never be crossed on foot or by vehicle.
