Cinchona Is Inhabitable,
Experts Say
Ignacio Chaves,
geologist for the
Comisión Nacional de
Emergencias (CNE), could
not be more explicit "in
my opinion, in this
place no one can not
return".
The geologist was giving
his opinion after an
inspection of the damage
caused by the January 8
earthquake on Cinchona
de Sarapiquí, in
Alajuela.
The expert said that
there is no room to
rebuild the town
"because there is
nothing left". Cinchona
was the closest to the
epicentre of the 6.2
quake and was completely
destroyed.
Chaves believes that
apart from the strong
earthquake, the moisture
in the area, the high
slope and deforestation
exacerbated the disaster
zone in the wild,
between Cinchona and La
Paz.
The geologist added that
if the earthquake had
occurred during the
winter months, the
disaster would have been
even worse.
During the rescue and
recovery efforts, many
spoke about their
intention of rebuilding
their town. However, the
head of the CNE, Daniel
Gallardo, considers that
the entire area should
be declared inhabitable.
The area, according to
experts is extreme
volatile and is not a
location apt to
habitation.
The earthquake of
January 8 destroyed not
only many of the area
factories, like that of
food producer El Ángel,
a major employer in the
area, but also diary
farms and many small
businesses that depended
on the local trade.
More than a week later,
the earth in Cinchona
keep rumbling. All week
there have been a series
of aftershocks and
tremors from other
faults, Thursday alone
there were 10 tremors in
the area and Friday
morning, the lastet
tremor to be felt in the
area and most of the
Central Valley was the
3.9 at 5:48am.
That tremor had a depth
of 5.6 kilometres and
centred between Cinchona
and San Miguel de
Sarapiquí, Alajuela,
according to the
Observatorio
Vulcanológico y
Sismológico de Costa
Rica (Ovsicori).
The rain that has been
falling in the area
since Thursday afternoon
and cloud cover has
forced recovery efforts,
grounding helicopters
and rescue workers.
Carlos Gutiérrez of the
Cruz Roja Costarricense
(Red Cross) said that
due to metereological
conditions and mudslides
from the constant
tremors, their efforts
have been hampered and
fear accidents of rescue
teams.
At least 8 people are
still list as missing in
Cinchona.
The CNE had said earlier
this week that rescue
and recovery efforts
would be diminished
beginning on Sunday,
though it is considering
extending the efforts
for one or more day more
and is asking for those
people who have homes to
go back to, to do so.
A team of psychologits
and other experts have
been doing a home to
home canvass of the area
to assess damage and the
emotional condition of
the residents of the
area.
All over the country,
especially in San Jose
and the Central Valley,
all types of activities
are planned for people
to come and donate their
time, goods and money.
Local radio and
television stations have
all set up donation
centres outside their
studios, Teletica in La
Sabana and Repretel in
La Uruca.
La Central de Radios,
which operates Radio
Reloj, Radio Monumental
and a host of other
radio stations has
programmed a free
concert outisde their
studios in La Uruca, on
the south side of the
Pablo II bridge and are
asking people to come
out and donate. |
