OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Costa Rica: Floods
21 October 2007


This report is based primarily on information provided by the National
Emergency Commission (CNE) to the Resident Coordinator's Office. Other
sources include main newspapers, the National Meteorological Institute,
as well and interviews with national counterparts.

General Situation:

1. The North Pacific, Central Pacific and Central Valley regions of
Costa Rica have suffered extensive flooding, landslides and blockages of
roads, due to heavy rains since Monday, 8 October. The southern part of
Central America is affected by two low pressure systems, and weather
conditions are not expected to improve within the next few days.
Forecasts from the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) show a high
probability of a major tropical wave starting Monday 22 October.
Precautionary measures are to be extended until mid-November.

2. To date, 33 cantons (out of a total of 81) are on either Red or
Yellow Alert. The CNE is leading the co-ordination of response
activities and chairs the National Risk Management National System.

3. An Executive Emergency Decree was issued on 18 October to accelerate
the national response. Impact:

4. The following Cantons are severely affected: (Costa Rica is
constituted by 7 provinces and 81 cantons):

Mudslides / Blockages - Province of San Jose: Alajuelita, Desamparados,
Aserri, Acosta, Mora, Puriscal, Atenas

Province of Guanacaste - Abangares, Hojancha, Nandayure.

Extensive flooding - Province of Puntarenas: Parrita, Puntarenas

Extensive flooding - Province of Guanacaste: Nicoya, Filadelfia,
Hojancha, Liberia, Nandayure, La Cruz

Summary of the situation: (Source: CNE)

Contact details


Desk officer (New York):
Mr. Ignacio Leon
Office Tel: +1 917 367-9960
Office Fax: +1 212 963-36 30
E-mail: leoni@un.org


GCMS (Geneva)
Ms. Aoibheann O'Keeffe
Office Tel: +41 22 917 4329
E-mail: okeeffe@un.org


OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mr. Douglas Reimer
Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Office Tel. +507 317-1748
Office Fax +507 317-1744
Mobile: +507 6676-1689
E-mail: reamer@un.org

Press contact (Geneva):
Ms. Elisabeth Byrs
Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53
Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org


Press contact (New York):
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126
Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

Attachments:
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