Earthquake Leaves 14 Dead and 22 Declared “Missing”.

Yesterday’s magnitude 6.2 earthquake, which has claimed 8 lives* so far, hit just a few miles outside of Costa Rica’s highly trafficked Poas Volcano National Park, leaving anywhere between 250 and 400 national and foreign tourists stranded near the epicenter. Affected hotels include the La Cascada Hotel, Peace Lodge and the Waterfall Garden Hotel, both located in close proximity to the La Paz waterfall. Helicopters are working to airlift groups of tourists to the Tobias Bolaños Airport in Pavas, San Jose.

So far one rescued tourist is being treated for hypothermia, while a family of four Belgian tourists fell 20 meters at an overlook of the La Paz waterfalls in Sarapiqui. The children are said to be fine while the parents are being treated for minor injuries after the lookout platform fell the second the earthquake started.

The narrow winding mountain roads leading to the Poas volcano, La Paz waterfalls and Vara Blanca region could not withstand the earthquake, as many sections gave way or were covered in landslides from above. One of these landslides claimed the lives of the first known victims, 7 and 9 year old sisters who were selling candy along the highway. Many others knocked out homes and carried debris into the Sarapiqui River, which now resembles something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Flash floods from the unsettled earth and excessive debris have also claimed houses and covered low lying land.

The worst hit areas include Vara Blanca de Heredia and Sarapiqui, Alajuela. Between the two areas it is estimated that about 16 kilometers of road is completely blocked, while three of those kilometers have completely disappeared. Citizens and tourists who remain stranded due to the destroyed roads have been forced to find shelter and abandon homes and hotels that are in precarious conditions. In the Waterfall Garden hotel alone, it is estimated that 200 tourists are trapped and the hotel is said to be severely damaged, without water, electricity or food for the guests.

Another group of guests may be trapped in the luxurious hotel Peace Lodge, while a bus with 40 people trapped just 4 kilometers from where a bridge went down by the El Angel River has not been able to communicate with officials regarding their condition. A total of 90 people will be airlifted out of these areas due to injuries, while nearly 1,000 more are also trapped. An additional 22 people have been declared missing, sparking fears that the death toll may continue to rise.

Several private companies and public organizations have offered 10 helicopters will be used to carry the stranded victims back to the city where they will decide to continue on their journey or head home. The president of the Costa Rica Tourism Institute has called for added assistance for foreigners stranded in these regions and assures that all missed flights will be rearranged, and free lodging will be available to help out.

Yesterday’s earthquake in Costa Rica was not the only notable movement of the Earth. Several small earthquakes were also registered in Nicaragua and El Salvador in the morning, measuring between 3.6 and 4.5 on the Richter scale. Both countries registered seismic activity the previous day as well, just like Costa Rica’s 4.0 earthquake that occurred Wednesday. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake also hit southern California yesterday.

*The total death count is unclear due to what La Nacion is calling a ‘mix-up’ over a police radio that made it to the press. This new number released by the Red Cross includes three bodies that were found near the La Paz waterfalls, three young girls caught in landslides, a woman who died of a heart attack and a 35 year old male who died in Vara Blanca. This article will be updated if any new numbers are released.

This post's rating:

Related Stories

Filed under: Costa Rica News on January 9th, 2009