Well-wishes to Costa Rica Forum Friends After the Storm

[VNwalking]

To our Forum friends over/down there in Costa Rica~heartfelt kind thoughts for you today, hoping you're safe and dry after Hurricane Otto. We are wishing you well!

 

[fraluchi]

To our Forum friends over/down there in Costa Rica~heartfelt kind thoughts for you today, hoping you're safe and dry after Hurricane Otto. We are wishing you well!

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. The North-east of Costa Rica was seriously hit and the small town of Upala totally distroyed. Othe communities, Bagaces and Los Chiles, were flooded and are still under mud and water. 9 people are reported to have died in that zone.
The South-west, Osa peninsula in particular, had already suffered heavy rain with floods some 10 days ago. Student volonteers of various nationalities got isolated for a few days, but there were no casualties.
The Central Valley, i.e. The main towns of Cartago, San Jose, Heredia and Alajuela, did not experience anything of what was happening up North, on the other side of the central mountain range. We had reasonably nice weather, wind still with 20 C. (70 F.) temperatures. No rain but 85% air humidity.

 

[annakappa]

On Thursday, Costa Rica was hit by hurricane Otto. This is the first time the country has been hit by a hurricane in 174 years! The entire fairly sparsely northern Caribbean coast had been evacuated, so no lives were lost, however, Otto continued on at force 1, due to the fact that the northern part of the country is totally flat. The rains, falling on 2 nearby volcanoes, created 2 enormous water heads, which rushed down to the plain and created havoc, leaving one town and 2 smaller villages totally covered in mud, destruction of houses and the loss of 9 lives. The 'anti clock' rotation of the hurricane then hit the southern pacific coast, which is mainly our indigenous area. This is a much more difficult area to reach. Nine hours from our capital and the final hours are on dirt roads only.

 

[VNwalking]

Thank you for your news, you two--I am both relieved that all is well for you, and at the same time feeling for all those dealing with so much devastation.
Heartfelt well-wishing...may those who have lost homes and family members have all the support they need at this difficult time.