RICO’s Q – As I sit at my computer updating the Q, it is 4:34 am and it is raining cats and dogs out there. It is unusual to be raining at this hour. But it is. The river in my backyard is roaring.
If you’re anything like me, and just want to move on from all this and get ready for the December winds, we’ll just have to be a little patient.
The latest forecasts from the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), warns that it will continue to rain this weekend and that, even, the rains may pick up.
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Costa Rica is under a national emergency
The Pacific coast, from top to bottom, is under a ‘Red Alert’, while the Northern Zone, the Central Valley, and the North Caribbean coast are on ‘Orange Alert’. The South Caribbean is under ‘Yellow Alert’, as the area is not typically affected hard by the October/November rains, they get theirs in January.
The constant rains, for more than a week now, have devastated many parts of Guanacaste.
First responders such as the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), Bomberos (Firefighters), Fuerza Publica (Police), and Guardacostas (Coast Guard) have been working tirelessly to respond to the emergency caused by the heavy rains.
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These and other public institutions have dedicated day and night to providing assistance to the affected communities, especially on the Pacific coast.
According to data from the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) – National Emergency Commission, more than 1,909 people have been evacuated to 40 temporary shelters, mainly in Guanacaste and the Southern Zone.
Also due to the rising rivers and landslides, many communities are being left isolated. That is why the work of first responders is vital to ensure that humanitarian aid arrives.
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Binational collaboration between Costa Rica and Panama was activated again in a joint operation between the Fuerza Publica and the National Border Service of Panama.
This coordination allowed daily meals to be delivered to the community of Alto Buriquí, in Panamanian territory, where both Costa Ricans and Panamanians reside.
Despite the politicking of legislators, who got foolishly pissed off because they weren’t consulted, the 300 soldiers (unarmed and not invading) and specialized emergency personnel, from El Salvador, brought some 15 tons of food and 6 tons of medical supplies distributed in the most affected communities of Corredores, Golfito, in the province of Puntarenas and Santa Cruz, in Guanacaste.
The aid was promised by Salvadoran President, Nayib Bukele, on an official visit to Costa Rica on Monday.
Roads closed
Many other roads are also closed or partially closed.
The IMN forecasts for rain to continue until Sunday applies mainly to the Pacific coast and parts of the Central Valley.
The official weather forecast for today, Friday, November 15, 2024:
Tropical storm Sara generates a constant flow of humidity from the Pacific Ocean towards the national territory, which is considered an indirect effect of this system. This will contribute to a rainy outlook this Friday in the country and will even extend to the weekend.
Cloudiness is expected from early in the day, as well as constant rain; especially in regions of the Pacific and to a lesser extent in the Central Valley. For the Northern Zone and the Caribbean there is a probability of isolated showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening.
Roads Closed
Several of the most important routes – Interamericana North (Ruta 1 in the area of the Cambronero) and South (Ruta 2 in the area of the Cerro de la Muerte), and Ruta 32 through the Zurqui (Heredia to Guapiles) remain closed from 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day, in necessary, and expected to continue to Monday, November 25.
According to the MOPT official report on Thursday, November 14, at 5:00 pm, these are the affected routes:
Total closures
- Ruta 238 – between Pueblo Nuevo de Coto y Las Trenzas
- Ruta 239 – in the area of Junquillo Arriba
- Ruta 245 – on the way to playa Carate de Puerto Jiménez
- Ruta 313 – de San Francisco de León Cortés sector
- Ruta 320 – Cuesta-El Encanto
- Ruta 608- Coto 44 y Coto 47, at the Amarillo bridge
- Ruta 714 – Quebradas, Zaragoza
- Ruta 742 – Peñas Blancas-Jabonal bridge closed
- Ruta 745 – Santa Rita, Rio Cuarto-La Tabla
- Ruta 909 – Portegolpe, Hatillo, Caimito
- Ruta 920 – Puente Las Palmas.
- Ruta 926 – Tilarán.
Roads with ‘paso regulado’ or only access by 4×4 vehicles:
- Ruta 2 – Palmar Norte-Paso Real
- Ruta 2 – Vergel- Disciplina
- Ruta 34 – at km 152 in the area Villa Caletas
- Ruta 121 – Frente a restaurante Adelita.
- Ruta 126 – Sector La Laguna, San Miguel de Sarapiquí
- Ruta 160 – Río Seco (only 4×4)
- Ruta 160 – Nicoya, Calmital, Belén, Cuesta Grande, Sámara
- Ruta 160 – Río Bongo, Quebrada. Nando,San Francisco de Coyote, Cuesta de León, San Miguel, Padilla, Pueblo Nuevo, Camaronal, Islita (only 4×4)
- Ruta 163 – Jicaral, Dominica, Tampas, Juan de León, Y Griega, Javillo, San Jorge, San Francisco de Coyote
- Ruta 206 – Corralillo a Higuito (only 4×4)
- Ruta 209 – Sector de restaurante La Tranca y Palmichal de Acosta
- Ruta 226 – Límite cantonal León Cortés
- Ruta 245 – El Porvenir, Bahía Chal and the soda El Tucán
- Ruta 301 – paso regulado
- Ruta 317 – paso regulado
- Ruta 320 – Hacienda Punta Alta
- Ruta 336 – Sector de Monterrey a San Antonio
- Ruta 715 – Santa Margarita
- Ruta 748 – Sector Platanal
- Ruta 901 – Distrito de Zapotal, Nandayure
- Ruta 902 – Distrito de Zapotal, Nandayure
- Ruta 915 – Bejuco, Nandayure. Pampas, Zapozal, Bongo, Quebrada Nando
- Ruta 920 – Localidades Filadelfia, la Guinea, Ortega, Bolsón (only 4×4)
Many other routes are also affected. For the latest visit the official MOPT website or social media, such as Facebook.
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