by Rod Hughes

The rainy season is far from over in one of the wettest years on record. At least 50 inhabitants of two villages in the huge San Carlos and Upala cantons are isolated by flooding rivers that swept away the hanging footbridges that were their only route to the outside world.

In other parts of San Carlos canton, which is large enough to be its own province and reaches all the way to the Nicaraguan border, swollen rivers flooded low-lying homes. So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported.

In September, torrential downpours destroyed miles of roads, swept away bridges and caused 17 fatalities, including 15 in a disastrous mudslide.