18 Jul 2018 | 10:05 AM UTC
Costa Rica: Further rain forecast July 18-19 amid flooding /update 1
Further rain forecast for Costa Rica July 18-19 as country still recovering from major flooding July 13-14
Event
Various areas of Costa Rica remain flooded following heavy rainfall that lashed the country July 13-14. As of Wednesday, July 18, some 310 schools in the hardest-hit areas - Turrialba, Limón, Sulá, Sarapiquí, San Carlos, and Guápiles - remain closed. The rain has also caused a number of landslides, blocking roads such as Route 32, which connects the capital San José with the city of Limón.
Further rain with the potential to exacerbate the situation is forecast for the Caribbean side of the country on July 18 and the Pacific side July 19, with the arrival of a tropical wave.
Context
The long rainy season typically lasts from late May until early November in Costa Rica.
Advice
Individuals present in Costa Rica are advised to follow all instructions as issued by local authorities, monitor weather forecasts, and anticipate transportation disruptions and potentially hazardous conditions in affected areas.
Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.
