The Search Continues as Costa Rica Takes a Week to Honor Earthquake Victims.

The Costa Rica government declared a week of mourning for the deaths caused by Thursday’s magnitude 6.2 earthquake. At last count, the Costa Rican Red Cross tallied 18 victims, while the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) has officially declared 15 deaths. The official total is expected to be even higher, as 23 people remain missing. In their honor, the Palmareña Civic Association (ACP) has made the executive decision to postpone the long-awaited fiestas de Palmares, which will now begin on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

The decision came about after the Minister to the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias, made a public plea to the ACP that they suspend the parties, after a state of National Emergency was declared.

The president of the ACP, William Vasquez, said the association has every intention to support the government’s initiative, despite the costs likely involved in postponing the festival and international performers that were scheduled to begin this Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Vasquez told daily newspaper La Nacion that he is confident that the international performers, such as Kumbia Kings and Calle 13, will understand that the earthquake was a fortuitous event and that they will take necessary action to meet the new concert dates. According to the new schedule, the inaugural horse parade will take place on Thursday, Jan. 22.

The Santa Cruz fiestas patronales that were also schedule to start this Wednesday, Jan. 14 will probably also be delayed. This festival that honors the Black (Saint) Christ of Esquipulas takes place the second week in January every year. The president of the Santa Cruz Festival Commission said he is analyzing the possibility of changing the festival dates, after the request from the Ministry of the Presidency to respect the National Week of Mourning.

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For those of you wishing to made a donation to help in the relief effort and support for victims of the earthquake, the National Bank of Costa Rica is accepting direct deposits to the following Bank Account:

Bank: Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
SWIFT: BNCRCRSJ
Bank Address: Avenidas 1 y 3, Calle 4, San José, Costa Rica
Bank account: 15100010010009113
Beneficiary name: Comision Nacional de Emergecias
Beneficiary address: Hangar 3, Aeropuerto Tobias Bolaños

Photo Courtesy of Al Dia.

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Filed under: Cultural Events on January 12th, 2009