-Published: Tuesday, November 26, 2019-
Ten years after having lost their homes in an earthquake, families receive landlord certificates
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
On Monday 91 families received from the National Emergency Commission the landlord certificates of their homes located in Nueva Cinchona, which was built after the 2009 earthquake destroyed Cinchona in Alajuela.
"These families did not become the owners of their homes legally until this year because the commission did not have the legal authority to transfer the properties to people," said the commission in its statement.
In order to carry out the transfer of property ownership certificates, congressional deputies had to pass Law No. 9429, which granted the commission the necessary authorization for the donation of houses.
The families before this donation lived in the houses that were loaned to them, said the commission.
According to Nelson Villanea, president of the New Cinchona Development Association, these property titles represent the end of the process for families to obtaining their homes.
The 91 property titles delivered on Monday, are part of a total of 380 titles of the houses built by the commission, for people who lost their homes due to the earthquake.
The 2009 Cinchona earthquake occurred at 1:21:35 p.m. local time Jan. 8 and had a magnitude of 6.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of 7, meaning a very strong quake. The quake shook the town of Cinchona in the northern part of the country, but it was felt throughout Costa Rica and in southern central Nicaragua.
According to Red Cross reports after the earthquake, at least 34 people died, including at three children. More than 64 people were reported missing, and at least 100 people reported injured.
Most of the victims died when a landslide occurred near the La Paz waterfall by the Poás Volcano. Almost 500 people were evacuated, including tourists. The community of Vara Blanca, situated on a ridge, was destroyed when the ridge crumbled. Some motorists died when the roadway vanished beneath their vehicles.
After the earthquake, the government declared Emergency Decree No. 34993, to expedite the building of houses, bridges, roads, among other structures that were destroyed.
According to the commission, in addition to the construction of the Nueva Cinchona, a sports center, schools, police delegation and a Red Cross delegation, among others, were built.
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Do you know of any other place that needs repair after being destroyed by some natural phenomenon? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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