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    - Photo via Red Cross - |
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Published on Wednesday, October
20, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Meteorological Institute reported two new tropical waves near the country. The #47 of the green season is located near Panama and is expected to enter the country on Thursday. The other wave, #48, is located in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to hit the country on Sunday.  The intensity of the rains is caused by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, ICZ, which is located near the country's Pacific Coast. The natural phenomenon, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms due to the dull windless weather, is the area where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge. The zone appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms that are causing the overflowing of rivers and floods mainly in the mountainous areas of the country. This week the National Emergency Commission to release two weather alerts in the country.  The Caribbean Coast of Limón Province is under Green Alert. This alert is given when the authorities want to activate the community's emergency commissions to take action due to the danger related to a natural phenomenon. Meanwhile, the rest of the country is under Yellow Alert. This alert warns rescue forces to prepare for an increased danger of a natural phenomenon that will affect the population in a specific region. According to specialists, the mountainous areas in the provinces of Guanacaste, Limón, Alajuela and San José should be vigilant and prepared for possible landslides, trees falling or floods since they have a higher saturation of water due to the rains. The Institute reported in the northern area of the Guanacaste and Alajuela provinces, there is a high probability of heavy downpours and thunderstorms, with amounts of rain between 40-80 milliliters. On the Caribbean Coast, showers are anticipated in the mountainous parts between 15-40 milliliters. Specialists call for residents to increase precautions in the mountainous areas in Guanacaste, Tilarán, Escazú, San Carlos and Sarapiquí and the border zone with Panama. These areas present the highest saturation of water in the soil due to the heavy rains from the previous days. In addition, caution is recommended due to sewer saturation and possible flooding in the Pacific Coast, the Central Valley and the Northern Zone of the country. The Red Cross emergency monitoring department reported one person dead and at least 500 houses damaged by floods and landslides. The case was reported on Sunday in Purral District, San José Province when a landslide collapsed on several houses. A woman was trapped under rubble. Despite efforts to rescue her, she died. More emergency calls for floods, tree falls and landslides occurred in the cantons of Cartago Centro, Turrialba, Paraiso, and Orosi in Cartago Province. In San José Province, the cantons facing immediate attention were Guadalupe, Aserri and Desamparados. In Alajuela Province, the area of San Carlos and Guatuso had several houses flooded. Two municipal emergency commissions had to set up two shelters to attend to people who had to leave their homes. One shelter was set up in Guadalupe Canton. Housing 38 people. Another was set-up in Guatuso where 15 people were aided. Authorities call on the public to take the following precautionary measures to avoid emergencies: - Avoid aquatic activities in rivers (located in Emergency zones) such as swimming, diving, rafting, canyoning, river bugging, kayaking, cliff jumping, fishing, sailing, among others. - Stay informed about alerts issued by the authorities. - People living in mountain areas should increase precautionary measures against a possible landslide or material falling from the high areas of the hills. - Have an emergency evacuation plan in the community, work and home. - Drivers must increase precautions for heavy rain and fog. - Take precautionary measures in case of electrical storms. - Be alert in vulnerable areas to flooding due to sewer saturation or an increase of river flow. - In case of a thunderstorm, take refuge in a safe place. - In case of strong gusts of wind, be alert to possible falling tree branches or electrical cables. - In the event of a landslide, do not walk on the debris, stay away from affected areas, and do not return home until authorities verify that it is a safe place. Call 911 to report any possible flooding, fallen trees or landslides. A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts. ------------- What emergencies have been reported in your community caused by the rains? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com Real
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