Staff from various organizations began to clean and remove debris in Aguas Zarcas District located in San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, after a series of massive avalanches of mud, rocks and trees hit the zone.

On Sunday afternoon, massive waves of mudslides overflowed the river beds causing a flood over the zone, destroying local shops and houses.

According to the National Emergency Commission, workers from many public organizations, such as the Red Cross, the Fire Department, the Water Institute, the Electricity Institute, and the Ministry of Public Transportation, among others, are responding first to communities most affected. 

Authorities confirmed that despite mass destruction in the area there were no reported fatalities.

  

As a precautionary measure, local schools were suspended for two days: Tuesday and Wednesday. Authorities closed 10 of the schools located in the districts of Kooper, Bocatapada, Boca San Carlos and Aguas Zarcas, among others.

The Ministry of Public Transportation also closed bridge access over the rivers Aguas Zarcas and Kooper. This is where the most excess of mud and debris flooded the streets.

 

At press time, the rescue teams evacuated about 50 people from the communities of Kooper and Aguas Zarcas. They were taken to two shelters that were set up in the La Marina Public School in Palmera District and the Catholic Church in Boca Arenal District.

Authorities warn the inhabitants of the communities of Concepción, La Palmera, La Loma, Kooper and Aguas Zarcas, to avoid approaching the rivers and the affected mountainous area.  

They warn that there is still a possibility of more landslides, dragging trees and stones toward the lower areas of the park, which could affect nearby communities.

The first massive landslide was detected on July 15, at the Juan Castro Blanco National Park located in Alajuela Province.

Experts estimated that this landslide was about 40 hectares.

They said that the first massive avalanche covered a distance of 15 kilometers from the top mountainous area of the national park to the Aguas Zarcas River.

Authorities are conducting plane overflights to record the damage in the upper part of the mountains to have more accurate data on the impacted area. Subsequent analysis will determine if the avalanche was generated by soil erosion or by extreme rainfall.

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What have you heard about other communities impacted by excessive rain?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com