Worst Storm In 108 Years; Landslide Shuts Down Interamericana Norte
As a result of the constant downpours for the last four days, a massive landslide near the Chomes, Puntarenas, exit on the Interamericana Norte highway has caused more problems for the weather embattled Guanacaste.
Mud and rocks came falling down on from the side of the road yesterday afternoon and reports of vehicles trapped under the debris could not be verified as rescue workers dig through the rubble.
The mudslide occurred near the turn off to Monteverde on the major route that connects Puntarenas and Liberia and the Guanacaste beaches. The highway remained closed last night.
The weeklong rains has caused many rivers in to overflow their banks, causing flooding and evacuation and death.
As of last count, 274 communities have been affected around the country as a tropical storm at the Honduras-Nicaragua border batters Costa Rica, primarily in the Pacific coastal areas, seven deaths reports and 77.000 directly and indirectly affected.
Earlier this week the Interamericana Sur, that connects Cartago to Peréz Zeledón was also affected, as mudslide washed away some 50 metres of road surface at kilometre 111. Passage through the area is "regulado" - regulated - as only one lane is available.
According to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) )- national weather service -it hasn't rained like this in San José since 1944 and is the highest accumulation of rain - between January and September - in the capital since 1900.
The IMN is predicting that the downpours will be begin to lighten up by tomorrow.
http://insidecostarica.com/dailynews/20 ... /nac01.htm
Costa Rica’s 2008 Rainfall Already Record-Breaking
The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reports that Costa Rica’s 2008 rainfall is set to make the record books, accumulating more annual rainfall than it has seen in more than 60 years. An analysis of rainfall between January and October shows that 2,100 millimeters (82.7 inches) have fallen in San José city this year, compared to a historical average of 1,800 millimeters (70.8 inches). As expected, soaked and soggy residents Living in Costa Rica are not surprised.
Experts believe that the uncommon rainfall can be mostly attributed to temporales, the tropical storms that have rocked the region. Werner Stolz, chief of Forecasting for IMN, says that in the last four days, Guanacaste and the Pacific Coast have witnessed an amount of rain equal to an entire October’s historical average. Such torrential downpours and steady storms have set the country on course for the rainiest year in recent history.
Unfortunately, 2008’s extraordinary rains have made much deeper impressions than record-breaking statistics. This year, 274 towns have been affected by the rain, 37 neighborhoods have been damaged or destroyed, 12,000 people have been directly affected by flooding, 73 sections of road have been damaged, 287 homes have been partially or totally destroyed and too many have died. In just the last six days, six people have been killed by side effects of bad weather, three of them died yesterday.
The water situation has reached critical levels in many areas, where life has been put on hold to deal with damages from flooding. A huge landslide currently blocks the entrance to Chomes, Puntarenas, and vehicles are backed up with nowhere to go, with no connection between Guanacaste and the Central Valley. Authorities fear that several drivers and their passengers are actually trapped under a rockslide 328 feet long and 13 feet high. Rescuers have not yet been able to reach the victims.
In Buenos Aires, Corredores and Golfito, hundreds of people were taken out of their homes, rescued from flooding or impending flooding.
Despite what many think, heavy rainstorms are not just a minor inconvenience - they can cause serious flooding, property destruction and, in the worst cases, death. It is very important to take all precautions possible. Have leak and flood accessories available, an escape plan for the worst-case scenario, and exercise prudence and caution in the face of flooding rains. Walk carefully outside, drive carefully (especially along mountain roads) and at the first sign of serious problems, don’t hesitate to leave your home and head for higher ground.
The IMN believes that more stormy weather lurks on the horizon, bringing addition rain, hail and thunder storms, so be alert and careful in the days to come. On the bright side, November and the beginning of the dry season are just around the corner.
http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/trav ... aking/1552
