Lifeguards evacuate 28 people due to flooding in the southern zone

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The National Emergency Commission reports the evacuation of twenty-eight people, due to the impact on their homes by flooding caused by Tropical Storm No. 32 of the year.

According to the Commission, thirteen people from the community of Guatuso* in the province of San José were evacuated, plus fifteen people from the community of La Lucha in Golfito*, in the southern zone of the country.

Floods and landslides in these areas were caused by the passage of the tropical storm during the previous weekend.

The people were placed in shelters, where they are being attended by rescuers from the commission.

According to the reports of the municipal committees, there are 14 cantons affected for floods and landslides, as Coto Brus, Corridors, Golfito, Montes de Oro, Esparza, Quepos, Puntarenas, Greece, Valverde Vega, San Mateo, Liberia, Nandayure, Homeless, and Curridabat.

The emergency officials received more than 145 calls to 911, of which 118 of the reports correspond to floods caused by the overflow of the Claro River in Golfito, in the southern part of the country.

According to the committee, in the area near Rio Claro, as well as in the community of Grecia* in Alajuela, there were 200 houses with structural problems due to flooding.

"In the town of Lagarto, in the Rio Claro area, a large landslide generated an unexpected flood in the Lagarto riverbed, which dragged materials, flooding houses, roads, buildings, and other items," said the Commission in its report.

Commission officials delivered 150 bags with food, first aid items, blankets, and mattresses to families in a shelter in Guatuso.

As A.M. Costa Rica reported on Monday, the authorities declared a yellow and green alert due to the tropical storm passing through the country.

According to the Commission, the areas that have been most affected by heavy rains are in the South Pacific which is on a yellow alert.

Other areas that have been affected, but to a lesser extent, are the north and central areas of the Pacific coast, and the Central Valley which consists of the provinces of San José, Cartago, Alajuela, and Heredia.

According to the Meteorological Institute, during this week, thunderstorms are forecast for most of the country. Expect showers in the mornings in the Caribbean and the Northern Zone, and in the afternoons in the Central and South Pacific regions.

Wednesday and Thursday, there will be a slight decrease in rainfall. It is expected to increase in intensity toward the weekend.

As A.M. Costa Rica has been reporting since August, the increase in rain is due to the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the country.

The ITCZ, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms due to the dull, windless weather, is the area where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge. The ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms, that encircle the globe near the Equator.

Variations in the location of the ITCZ drastically affects the rainfall in many equatorial nations, resulting in the wet and dry seasons of the tropics rather than the cold and warm seasons of higher latitudes.

Longer-term changes in the ITCZ can result in severe droughts or flooding in nearby areas.

Due to the current conditions, people should be alert, especially in areas of high risk due to floods, landslides, or strong wind gusts.

Due to the alerts, specialists recommend:

- Be alert in vulnerable areas to flooding due to sewer saturation, increased river flow, and landslides.

- In case of a thunderstorm, take refuge in a safe place.

- In case of strong wind gusts be alert to possible falling tree branches or electrical cables.

The authorities ask the public to call 911 to report any possible flooding, falling trees, or landslides.

The A.M. Costa Rica team asks readers to share this alert among their contacts.



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Have you experienced any emergencies caused by this year's tropical storms in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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