Rita Affects Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
75 towns were affected Friday and Saturday by the effects of Tropical Storm Rita. Hardest hit was the Quepos area, but the entire Central Pacific and South Pacific coast is on alert. Damage was mainly due to mudslides and flooding.
Nearly 700 people were evacuated. According to Julio Madrigal, a geologist at the National Emergency Commission, the earthquake in November 2004 weakened and loosened earth that now comes loose under heavy rainfall, like over the weekend.
The commission is estimating 10 billion colones in damage, including:
- 27 bridges damaged (including the bridge over the Portalon river, which is destroyed)
- 57 roadways damaged
- 357 houses damaged in Tarrazú, Dota, Pérez Zeledón, Nicoya y Aguirre
- 696 people evacuated
Isolated Towns Get Help
Thanks to good weather Sunday morning, towns that had been isolated received assistance by helicopter from the CNE (National Emergency Commission). Coopesilencio, San Cristóbal, Santo Domingo, Río Blanco, Matapalo, Portalón y Hatillo were visited and 25 people with chronic health problems like diabetes and asthma were evacuated.
The CNE announced that in Quepos there were 3 centers for evacuees: Matapalo high school hosts 45 evacuees from Portalón; in San Cristóbal there is a camp for 62 people and the Hotel California in Quepos is lodging 14 people.
In Nicoya 11 families were evacuated from Nosara because the river was extremely high. The CNE is monitoring the Tempisque River and declared red alert for the entire Pacific Coast.