OMG!

The last few days have been catastrophic for the whole country as the rain has been relentless.  A state of emergency is in effect and the schools are closed, roads are impassable, bridges are failing and landslides have killed many and damaged much.

 

 

• The Turrucares Bailey bridge, the bridge replacing the fallen bridge in October last year killing five, fell under the force the water, choking off traffic between Puriscal and Orotina
• The road connecting Manuel Antonio and Quepos sank. The area south of the Mimmo's hotel is completely cut off from Quepos, trapping tourists, residents and workers.
• The Interamericana Sur in the area of Cerro de la Muerte is completely closed.
• The Costanera Sur near Palmar Sus is closed.
• The Interamericana Norte, north of Naranjo is with "paso regulado" as work crews clean up debris and mud from the road
• Monte de Aguacate (old road to Jacó) with partial and total closures
• Ruta 32 (San José - Limón) with paso regulado
• Ruta 27 (San José - Caldera) is with paso regulado in some sections

The rescue and recovery efforts in the mountains of Escazú have been suspended as the rains began to fall again minutes after 3pm. The head of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), as well as the Bomberos and Cruz Roja, decided to call off all operations for time being, hopefully resuming before nightfall, if not in the morning daylight.
So far a total of 20 bodies have been recovered, while 12 to 15 still missing and presumed buried under the heavy rocks, rubble and mud that extends one kilometre from the cerro Pico Blanco to the area known as La Lajas, in El Carmen de Escazú.

Meanwhile, east of Escazú, in the area of Aserrí and Acosta, residents there are living through their own nightmare, as landslides and running water have cut off communities.
The roads in Aserrí have turned into rivers. Many are literally cut off from their neighbours.

The national weather service is calling for at last 18 more hours of intense rain, adding to the national tragedy that is affecting many communities in the Central Valley, including Cartago and the Central Pacific areas of Parrita.