Heavy Rains Continue To Affect Low Lying Areas
Some 130 houses in Belén, Heredia, and another 120 in Alajuela were flooded yesterday provoked by the heavy rain.

In San Antonio de Belén, southwest of Cariari, the Quebrada Seca river overflowed its banks for more than an hour, flooding a large part of the town. At its highest point, the water level reached 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) and breaking the windows of 12 homes near the river.

Some 30 residents had to be evacuated and taken to shelter due to the threat posed by the flooding.

Walter Fonseca, an official of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) - national emergency commission - said the residents are again living the horror of last Wednesday, when 270 houses were affected by the rising river.

Fonseca said that yesterday was 60% of what happened Wednesday.

Authorities from the Fuerza Pública (police) and the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) closed off all traffic to the four bridges that connect San Antonio to La Ribera, waiting for the water levels to subside.

Meanwhile, the Bomberos (firefighters), began an inspection of the affected area, including neighbouring La Amistad and Escobal, where the river had also overflowed its banks but caused no consequences.

Further north, in barrio Cristo Rey, passage over the bridge that connects La Aurora de Heredia and Llorente de Flores was cut off as the river level had gotten dangerously high.

Jenny Alfaro, the mayor of de Flores said that her officials were keeping an eye on the Santa Elena and San Joaquín. The mayor asked all residents of the area to be on the alert as they can be affected once it starts to rain.

In Alajueal, some 80 homers were reported damaged in the areas known as San José and another 40 in Coyol. The areas are south of the Dos Pinos daily production plant.

The Alajuela river also overflowed its banks near the bridge that leads to Turrucares.

The Policía de Transito closed off the access and the only way to reach those communities was by taking a 2 kilometres detour.