Heavy Rain Causes Evacuation On the South Side of San José
More than six "barrios" (neighbourhoods) of Desamparados and Aserrí, south of San José, have been greatly affected by the heavy rain of the last couple of days and especially yesterday afternoon, when torrential rains inundated the area.

The Cruz Roja (Red Cross) and the Municipalidad de Aserr said that the areas most affected are Santa Teresita, Itabos, Santa Rita, Lourdes and Aserrí.

Mario Morals, mayor of Aserrí, said that they opened a shelter in the community hall to house the affected families and required the aid of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), providing blankets and foam matresses.

Morales added that the number of persons evacuated was greater than expected and had to open the local area gymnasium to accommodate everyone.

Other neighbourhoods like Barrio Bambú in San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados, still suffering from the collapse of a bridge last year, are now facing more consequences as the rushing water, weighed down with mud, is threatening to wash away the bridges foundation, completely diving the community. The bridge has been only open to pedestrian traffic during the past year.

Most of the flooding of the homes in those areas is due to the dirty storm sewers that are filled with garbage, sediment from the rising waters, who have completely collapsed the system, causing the closing down of the sewer system in Aserrí while municipal and CNE officials assess the situation.