|
| 
Published Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Families evacuated due to
a large-scale landslide
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Thirty-four families living in the Valladolid community in Desamparados Canton, San José Province, were evacuated by officials from the Municipality's emergency committee due to a large-scale landslide.
Officials from the National Emergency Commission observed the condition of the landslide and its impact on the community's houses.
According to the Commission, this landslide was initiated in 2017 after the passage of Tropical Storm Nate, and as a result of the recent rains, landslides have been registered, as well as breaks in houses.
Packages of food and personal protection supplies were delivered to the affected people and to the families who collaborated by sheltering the evacuees in their homes, Alexander Solis, president of the Commission said.
In addition, representatives of the Institute of Aid reported that they were carrying out a process to deliver bonuses to cover the families' basic needs, as well as assistance in obtaining temporary rent.
This is the second large-scale landslide that has been addressed by the Emergency Commission this month.
On Sep. 10, the Ministry of Telecommunications announced that they had begun the process of relocating the telecommunication towers, located on the Irazú Volcano National Park, in Cartago Province, to restore the services affected by the landslide that happened on Aug. 26 in that area.
Specialists from the Volcanological Observatory and the National Emergency Commission presented the study of the landslide, which details the existence of new cracks and a movement of earth detected in areas where there are still telecommunications antennas and infrastructure.
According to the ministry, the study identified two new dangerous areas. For that reason, and with the goal of safeguarding the workers in the area near the landslide, as well as guarantee the continuity of telecommunications services such as radio and public television, that location will be closed.
The area is used as one of the main points for installing antennas and telecommunications buildings, to provide the service in the central region of the country.
According to the ministry, since 2015, modifications and improvements have been made to protect the lives of the park rangers and as well as the area of the workers of the telecommunication companies.
Those antennas and buildings are located in the 60-meters near the main crack. The companies were informed about a large unstable land block in that area.
The main landslide happened on Aug. 26 at 4:02 a.m. It was a block of about 25 million cubic meters in the area near the location of the tower that fell over the Sucio river. "This did not cause a risk to any nearby population," the ministry said.
As a result of the landslide, work was carried out to restore telecommunications services. Currently, they are working on reestablishing some services that continue disconnected.
The study also recommends removing all the telecommunication structures during the remainder of this year, since they are located in the area of highest danger.
The Commission recommended as a preventive measure to keep the zones of El Roble, Puma and Micaela trails (in the Irazu Volcano National Park) closed to the public.
However, another area in the park is open to the public, because the landslide happened away from the tourist zone.
--------------------------------
Have you heard of houses or public areas affected by landslides in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on
this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
|
