by Rod Hughes

Heavy rains poured down all over the country Christmas Day but nowhere was hit heavier than the Atlantic slope. Flooding sent hundreds into emergency shelters and damaged roads and crops.

Reports of damage were slow to trickle in, but now they tell of four deaths, two missing in the Matina area on the Caribbean coast and two bridges swept away. More than 400 persons left their flooded homes.

The National Meteorological Institute said a change in weather today will alleviate the inclement conditions. Weather experts say that the rains are to be expected in December and January on the Caribbean and the flooding was not caused by hurricane conditions.

Four persons died when their vehicle was swept off the road and into a flooded ditch at La Perla, Siquirres, where 100 homes were flooded. Three dikes also suffered ruptures which added to the havoc.