The heavy rains caused first by Tropical Wave #46 of the green season and eventually the indirect effects of Tropical Storm Sara, killed at least five people and displaced thousands.

Last Monday, that tropical wave created a low-pressure area south of the Caribbean Sea. Two days later, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicated the depression would grow into Tropical Storm Sara, prompting the National Emergency Commission to declare a Red Level Alert throughout the Pacific Coast due to the storm's indirect effects.

Sara's indirect impacts resulted in around 800 emergencies due to floods and landslides, primarily in Pacific Coast cities. Over 3,500 people and more than 200 pets were evacuated to more than 40 shelters.

Authorities said they had given 35,000 food packages to thousands affected by the heavy rains.

The process of inspecting structures, residences, bridges, and roads damaged by the rains and floods will begin this week, according to officials.

The severe rains worsened the damage to the Daniel Oduber-Quiros International Airport (LIR) runway, forcing a temporary shutdown of operations this week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center announced that Sara has dissipated over Mexico. Consequently, Costa Rican authorities reduced the level of weather alerts around the country as the weather improved.

The Central Valley and the northern zone of the Caribbean Coast alert lowered from orange to yellow. This second-level alert warns the rescue teams to be ready for a large-scale natural phenomenon that is forming and is almost certain to impact that specific area.

The southern zone of the Caribbean Coast alert reduces from yellow to green. This first level of warning directs emergency committees to keep informed of how the natural event is developing. It indicates that there is an elevated probability that an emergency will develop nearby.

On Sunday, President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles visited some communities flooded by heavy downpours, including the cantons of Carrillo, Santa Cruz, and Liberia, in Guanacaste.

The government asks for food donations for families affected by the country's severe rains and flooding. They are requesting food such as canned foods, soup, rice, beans, coffee, pasta, ketchup, snacks, condiments, cereal, cooking oil, spices, bottled water, shelf-stable milk, juice, plastic bags, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and plastic utensils.

Last week, a flight from El Salvador with a donation of 15 tons of food, tons of emergency equipment and a team of 100 people, including rescuers, first aid personnel and emergency care experts.

It is expected that two more flights with food donations will arrive in the country in the next few days, authorities said.

According to the experts, in November the final rainy days of the current green season will be gradually replaced by sunny days across the country.

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) works with people and emergency professionals to strengthen, sustain, and enhance the county's ability to plan for, defend against, respond to, recover from, and reduce any potential hazards.