Costa Rica's National Emergency Commission (CNE) on Saturday afternoon placed the entire national territory under weather alerts as it anticipates indirect effects from Tropical Storm Iota.
Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua announced evacuations Friday as a second major hurricane in days closed in on Central America with the region still reeling from deadly storm Eta last week.
Iota is expected to threaten and make landfall as a major hurricane on Sunday night or Monday morning. Forecasts indicate northern Nicaragua and/or southern Honduras could bear the brunt of Iota.
Costa Rica on Tuesday issued a State of Emergency, a move which will help the National Emergency Commission (CNE) take administrative, operational and economic measures to assist the country's recovery from Hurricane Eta.
This year's hurricane season has seen a record 29 named tropical storms wreak havoc across the southeastern United States, the Caribbean and Central America, experts said on Tuesday.
The death toll in Honduras from Tropical Storm Eta has more than doubled in 24 hours, with authorities Monday reporting 57 people had died as rescuers search for bodies.
The United States and Guatemala have sent helicopters to Honduras to help with a rescue mission that involves 50,000 emergency services workers, authorities said.
