Following flooding that damaged hundreds of homes and dozens of offices near San José, the National Emergency Commission (CNE) declared a red alert in the area, as well as lesser alerts in other regions of the country.
A statement yesterday afternoon from the CNE indicated that the flooding, caused by six hours of heavy rains Wednesday – on average, 46 liters per square meter – affected 3,000 people throughout the Central Valley and damaged 300 homes and 13 bridges. In addition, a tornado in Cartago, east of San José, damaged 43 homes and sent two people to the local hospital.
The daily La Nación reported that the floods caused at least one death: that of Julio César Mena, 68, whose body was found in the Ciruelas River near El Roble de Alajuela.
The cantons hardest hit were Desamparados, Belén, Alajuela, Cartago, Flores and Heredia, though incidents were also reported in Alajuelita, Guadalupe, Moravia, Tibás, Aserrí, Coronado and Liberia.
CNE president Daniel Gallardo said the commission has already invested more than ¢10 million (approximately $19,231) in supplies for shelters to house 45 displaced residents of Belén, north of San José, and Alajuela, west of the capital.
Belén and Flores, Heredia, as well as central Alajuela, are still on red alert; Desamparados is on yellow alert; and the entire Central Valley, the Central Pacific, Southern Zone, and southern Caribbean region are on green alert.
What does that mean? CNE spokesman Reynaldo Carballo told The Tico Times that all residents of those regions, particularly those who live near rivers, should stay vigilant. Meteorologists indicate current conditions are typical for the May-November rainy season, Carballo added, but local and national emergency workers are preparing nonetheless. |
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