The Costa Rican Government declared a state of emergency on Wednesday all along the Pacific coast and Central Valley due to the effects of heavy rains that have continued for over a week.

Costa Rica Travel News – Flooding in Costa Rica

The declaration allowed the release of funds from other government institutions to be used by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to repair roads, bridges and dams that have been damaged by flooding.

This is the most serious state of emergency that has been declared this year and 18 people have already died from the effects of the rain, 14 of whom were the victims of the mudslide that occurred in Atenas last Thursday.

The CNE has released statistics stating that over 1,800 people have been displaced from their homes (the majority located in Guanacaste), and the total cost of damage to roadways, homes and agriculture has reached over $67 million. A section of the Interamerican Highway (south of San Jose) was almost completely destroyed, and may take up to two weeks to be repaired. Traffic is being rerouted, but the detour can only support lighter vehicles.

The National Meteorological Institute said that an end to the rain is not on the horizon. There are currently several low pressure systems that will likely sweep through Costa Rica in the coming weeks.

Even in the future wake of the rains, the threat to human life may not be over. The increase in standing water throughout the country may serve as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, which could cause an increase in cases of dengue.

Three more deaths were classified as the result of the dengue hemorrhagic fever, a report said this week, bringing the country total to six deaths this year. That is a huge spike considering the total number of deaths in the last 14 years, including those six, is only 12. Over 200 people are currently being treated for dengue hemorrhagic fever, while over 20,000 people have normal dengue fever, which is much less likely to result in death.

The Ministry of Health has reemphasized its decision to cancel this year’s Carnavales celebrations in Limon due to the continued threat of dengue in the region. They will conduct further studies when the rain slows down as to how to deal with the standing water throughout the country.

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Filed under: Travel on October 18th, 2007