Severe Flooding Affects 11 Municipalities in Costa Rica Amid Heavy Rainfall
Emergency incidents reported across multiple regions as rainfall causes significant local damage.
On Wednesday afternoon, torrential rains led to widespread flooding across 11 municipalities in Costa Rica, resulting in 55 reported emergency incidents.
The most significant impacts were recorded in Desamparados, Alajuela, and Montes de Oca, with additional reports of flooding in Belén, Carrillo, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, Golfito, Grecia, and Nandayure, according to the National Emergency Commission (CNE).
In San José, neighborhoods such as Dent and Hatillo experienced severe water intrusion, leading to damage to residential properties and personal belongings.
Residents reported rapidly rising water levels that breached homes, damaging appliances and furniture.
Melina Dada, a resident of barrio Dent, described the extensive damage to her home, where the first floor was overwhelmed by floodwaters, destroying the kitchen and refrigerator.
Dada recounted the moments leading up to the flooding, noting that while preparing dinner, water surged into her house, forcing her to evacuate her possessions to the second floor.
"This is the beginning of winter; the water reached nearly two meters in my house.
I am still in shock.
We were buying meat when I started seeing water entering, and then the door burst open, flooding my home," she stated.
Dada expressed frustration with the municipal government's lack of response to long-standing requests for flood protection measures, such as the construction of a containment wall along the river.
In Circunvalación, traffic was disrupted due to road closures from the Hatillo roundabout to Pavas.
Additionally, in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, floodwaters from the Los Negritos creek inundated access to the Law Faculty at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) along the Circunvalación viaduct.
The Costa Rican Red Cross deployed personnel to the area where they successfully rescued a minor and an adult woman trapped in a residence, although another adult in the same home refused to evacuate despite being assessed by emergency responders.
Furthermore, in El Roble de Alajuela, the fire department responded to reports of individuals trapped in a vehicle engulfed by floodwaters.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a taxi in the flood, but the occupants had already managed to escape.
The CNE has issued a yellow alert across nearly the entire country due to the effects of tropical wave 4, emphasizing ongoing concerns regarding the potential for further flooding as the rainy season progresses.
The most significant impacts were recorded in Desamparados, Alajuela, and Montes de Oca, with additional reports of flooding in Belén, Carrillo, Pérez Zeledón, Escazú, Golfito, Grecia, and Nandayure, according to the National Emergency Commission (CNE).
In San José, neighborhoods such as Dent and Hatillo experienced severe water intrusion, leading to damage to residential properties and personal belongings.
Residents reported rapidly rising water levels that breached homes, damaging appliances and furniture.
Melina Dada, a resident of barrio Dent, described the extensive damage to her home, where the first floor was overwhelmed by floodwaters, destroying the kitchen and refrigerator.
Dada recounted the moments leading up to the flooding, noting that while preparing dinner, water surged into her house, forcing her to evacuate her possessions to the second floor.
"This is the beginning of winter; the water reached nearly two meters in my house.
I am still in shock.
We were buying meat when I started seeing water entering, and then the door burst open, flooding my home," she stated.
Dada expressed frustration with the municipal government's lack of response to long-standing requests for flood protection measures, such as the construction of a containment wall along the river.
In Circunvalación, traffic was disrupted due to road closures from the Hatillo roundabout to Pavas.
Additionally, in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, floodwaters from the Los Negritos creek inundated access to the Law Faculty at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) along the Circunvalación viaduct.
The Costa Rican Red Cross deployed personnel to the area where they successfully rescued a minor and an adult woman trapped in a residence, although another adult in the same home refused to evacuate despite being assessed by emergency responders.
Furthermore, in El Roble de Alajuela, the fire department responded to reports of individuals trapped in a vehicle engulfed by floodwaters.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a taxi in the flood, but the occupants had already managed to escape.
The CNE has issued a yellow alert across nearly the entire country due to the effects of tropical wave 4, emphasizing ongoing concerns regarding the potential for further flooding as the rainy season progresses.