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Costa Rica floods continue: 1 585 houses heavily damaged or destroyed

costa-rica-floods-continue-1585-houses-heavily-damaged-or-destroyed

Over 740 people were evacuated from their homes and 19 communities are left isolated, as another round of heavy rainfall continues to sweep Costa Rica.

Heavy flooding in Costa Rica's Caribbean and northern regions, started on June 21, 2015, leaving hundreds of people displaced and damaging roads and bridges. The situation has somewhat improved by June 25, 2015, and most of the people were able to return to their homes, however, another episode of torrential rain caused more damage across the provinces of Limon, Heredia and Cartago, by June 27, 2015.

As aid workers and security personnel worked to reestablish connections with isolated communities, President Luis Guillermo Solís said he would consider declaring a national emergency in Limón.

Reports from the National Emergency Commission (CNE) said that 1 585 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed by flooding by June 29. There are 745 people living in 12 emergency shelters with the majority in Matina, Limón and Sarapiquí, Heredia, where 380 and 342 people are temporarily housed, respectively.

The canton of Sarapaqui in the province of Heredia, has been hit the hardest, as 12 communities along the Sarapiqui and Sucio rivers have been cut off. Schools in Sarapaquí, Talamanca, Limón, Matina, Pococí, Siquirres, Guácimo and Turrialba are closed until July 4.

Costa Rica's Instituto Meteorologico Nacional (IMN) warned that more severe weather is on the way.

Red alert has been issued for the provinces Limon, Heredia and Cartago, a yellow warning is in place for the province of Alajuela, and the lowest level warning holds place for the provinces of San Jose and Puntarenas.

Featured image: Costa Rica flood, June 24, 2015. Image credit: @globalnetworkdr

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