Situation Report
Floods in Costa Rica
Monday December 2nd 2002
Costa
Rica experienced severe flooding from November 29th to December 1st. The areas
of Vertiente del Caribe and Zona Norte suffered great damages. Bodies of water
overflowed, including: Estrella, Chirripó-Matina, Barbilla, Banano-Bananito,
Sixaola.
The rain and cold front have finally dissipated.
Affected Areas include the Caribbean and Zona Norte. The principal cities affected are Limón, Sarapiqui (Puerto Viejo), Sixaola, Siquirres, Turrialba.
Blocked roads prevented many areas from receiving assistance and damage assessment.Additional affected areas may be revealed as local assistance committees and the Red Cross reach these parts.
The Government declared a state of Emergency through the decree No. 30866, signed today, December 2nd 2002. Floods of this intensity had not struck the region for the last 32 years. This month, Limón has experienced 200% more rain than expected. Fourteen collapses have been reported.
Deaths and Injuries: According to the Red Cross, 1 death has been reported, 6 people are still missing and one has been injured (Sunday night). These numbers may increase within the next days. CNE reports that 5,530 people are in 38 shelters (Monday, 1 pm).
Damages: The storms have severely damaged infrastructure and agriculture. Several roads are blocked, preventing access to many towns. Sarapiqui has been completely cut off and 700 people have been affected. Power lines are down in several places. Communities lack potable water due to well contamination. Additionally, food stores have been exhausted.
Approximately 25,000 homes have been damaged due to landslides in the regions of Matina, Siquirres, Limón and Salamanca.
Isolated villages:
Celia (Talamnaca-Sixaola)
Comunidades en Guápiles Carmen y Cocal (Siquirres)
Bajos de Toro-Valverde Vega
Health Infrastructure Damage: A Sarapiqui medical clinic was damaged as a result of flooding. More than 300 water wells need cleaning in Sarapiquí.
So far, no request for international relief assistance has been made. Authorities are still evaluating damages and assessing needs. Water levels should subside within a few days.
Situation reports and additional information are available from CNE, Costa Rica's Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias, at: www.cne.go.cr.