Heavy Rain Causing Floods And Evacuations in Caribbean and Zona Norte
Vidal Díaz Sánchez is the first victim of the heavy rains in the Zona Norte (nothern zone) and Caribbean coast. The fifty-three year old drowned and some other 200 have been evacuated. Various bridges and homes have been damaged due to the rain.

Díaz, who is from Turrialba, died yesterday morning when he tried to cross the Monteverde creek in an attempt to save his livestock.

According to the information by the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) the heavy rain will continue into today and are asking people to keep an eye open for rising waters in the rivers.

The CNE said it evacuated residents of the area known as El Tigre de Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, where 100 people were given shelter in a nearby school. The areas of Flaminca and Pastoral were also evacuated as some 100 residents from those communities were relocated to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí.

The CNE has now given out the "yellow" alert for the area.

To the north, in San Carlos, several rivers overflowed their banks affecting the areas of Aguas Zarcas, Platanar, Florencia, El Castillo and La Fortuna.

Between La Fortuna and San Carlos, authorities informed that two bridges were heavily damaged and choking off completely the community of Las Brujas. The Tres Amigos bridge that connects Augas Zarcas and Pital is closed. The only way to and from those communities is through a 15 kilometre detour.

The communities of Casta del Mar, Boca Tapada, Santa Rita, El Recreo and Boca del Río, home to some 4.000 people, are being threatened as the El Ojoche river levels continue to rise.

Daniel Gallardo, president of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias, said that supplies have been sent to the affected areas and those evacuated will be kept in shelters until it is safe to go home again.