Communities around Costa Rica are being pounded by a tropical storm that has caused several rivers to overflow, according to the National Emergency Commission (CNE), which yesterday declared a green, preventive alert for the Pacific coast and Central Valley.

The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) yesterday predicted more strong rains to pass over the region last night.

Yesterday, heavy rains began to fall over the northwestern Guanacaste province, flooding houses in Tilarán and Santa Isabel Arriba. Also, 15 families were preventively evacuated from their homes Tuesday night when heavy rains threatened to cause Cañas River to overflow.

These torrential rains continued all day yesterday, causing damage in the cantons of Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya.