The following was at another forum and I thought it would be appropriate to post it here as well. This horrific event happened less than a mile from our doorstep at the West Wing Casino and has affected me a great deal as I have watched the entire community of San Antonio de Escazu deal with this tragedy.
At least 21 persons are dead as direct results of the heavy rain that hit the country since Monday.
The death toll is sure to climb as teams of volunteers continue to search through the debris and tons of mud and rocks that buried dozens of homes while it's residents slept very early Thursday morning.
Rescuers search for bodies after a landslide in Costa Rica. A rain-sodden hillside collapsed on homes early Thursday killing more than 20 people, including infants and children, many as they slept.
The largest loss of life was in Calle Lajas, Barrio El Carmen, San Antonio de Escaz?, where part of Pico Blanco gave way after midnight Thursday and dumped tons of rock, dirt and trees on residents as they slept.
The national emergency commission said that at least five homes were buried. Emergency workers found 20 bodies, eight women, six men and six children. More victims are believed to have been buried alive. Unofficial estimates range from five to twenty more persons are currently unaccounted for.
The emergency commission reported that there are 27 shelters operating throughout the country with about 1,394 residents. Principal shelters are in Atenas, Naranjo, Bagaces, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Quepos, Parrita, Osa, Alajueilita, Aserr?, Desamparados, Dota, Escaz? and Le?n Cort?s.
At least nine bridges have been damaged, including the Turrubares bridge over the R?o Grande de T?rcoles, which was destroyed by a 45-foot wall of water. Some homes nearby also suffered damage.
Also damaged was a petroleum pipeline there that is being repaired, said the emergency commission.
The Ministerio de Obras P?blicas y Transportes said that 58 stretches of road were damaged, and 38 were in critical shape. That just includes the national roads. Many local roads were destroyed, too.
A group of children under the age of 10 have lost their parents and are being cared for at one of the two dozen makeshift shelters that have been set-up for the hundreds, many of them children, left homeless.
Open Arms Costa, the official charity of The Rx.com is one of the principal charities along with The Costa Rican Red Cross that are doing all they can to help the most needy victims of this truly horrific natrual diaster. Their goal is to make sure the children left homeless are cared for - your help is badly needed to make sure these now homeless and some family-less children receive the critical care they require. Many escaping with just their bed clothes on their backs are in dire need of help.
Please do what you can by making a donation to Open Arms Costa Rica by PayPal..
You can donate cash by sending whatever you can to Open Arms Costa Rica by PayPal.Just click on the link in red and then click on DONATIONS
Please help these families in dire need with any amount you can afford. The ***** does not see a cent of any funds sent to Open Arms Costa Rica's PayPal account..
Thank you from everyone here at ****** for stepping up again to help the needy and innocent victims of this devastating natural diaster as you have done in the past. You should see the name Dana XXXXX in the PayPal transaction. Please use the term Natural Diaster Assitance when asked by PayPal or your bank as the reason you are making a donation.
Many thanks to all, wilheim..
PS: All donations from US Residents are tax deductable, just email me at person19481950@yahoo.com with your name and the email address you want Open Arms Costa Rica's accounting deptartment to contact you at.
All your donation and tax information will be private between yourself and Open Arms Costa Rica.. on the top right hand side of the home page of OACR's website..
We are holding a benefit for the affected families on Saturday and I encourage all that are able to contribute to open their wallets and send what they can to Open Arms Costa Rica.
At least 21 persons are dead as direct results of the heavy rain that hit the country since Monday.
The death toll is sure to climb as teams of volunteers continue to search through the debris and tons of mud and rocks that buried dozens of homes while it's residents slept very early Thursday morning.
Rescuers search for bodies after a landslide in Costa Rica. A rain-sodden hillside collapsed on homes early Thursday killing more than 20 people, including infants and children, many as they slept.
The largest loss of life was in Calle Lajas, Barrio El Carmen, San Antonio de Escaz?, where part of Pico Blanco gave way after midnight Thursday and dumped tons of rock, dirt and trees on residents as they slept.
The national emergency commission said that at least five homes were buried. Emergency workers found 20 bodies, eight women, six men and six children. More victims are believed to have been buried alive. Unofficial estimates range from five to twenty more persons are currently unaccounted for.
The emergency commission reported that there are 27 shelters operating throughout the country with about 1,394 residents. Principal shelters are in Atenas, Naranjo, Bagaces, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Quepos, Parrita, Osa, Alajueilita, Aserr?, Desamparados, Dota, Escaz? and Le?n Cort?s.
At least nine bridges have been damaged, including the Turrubares bridge over the R?o Grande de T?rcoles, which was destroyed by a 45-foot wall of water. Some homes nearby also suffered damage.
Also damaged was a petroleum pipeline there that is being repaired, said the emergency commission.
The Ministerio de Obras P?blicas y Transportes said that 58 stretches of road were damaged, and 38 were in critical shape. That just includes the national roads. Many local roads were destroyed, too.
A group of children under the age of 10 have lost their parents and are being cared for at one of the two dozen makeshift shelters that have been set-up for the hundreds, many of them children, left homeless.
Open Arms Costa, the official charity of The Rx.com is one of the principal charities along with The Costa Rican Red Cross that are doing all they can to help the most needy victims of this truly horrific natrual diaster. Their goal is to make sure the children left homeless are cared for - your help is badly needed to make sure these now homeless and some family-less children receive the critical care they require. Many escaping with just their bed clothes on their backs are in dire need of help.
Please do what you can by making a donation to Open Arms Costa Rica by PayPal..
You can donate cash by sending whatever you can to Open Arms Costa Rica by PayPal.Just click on the link in red and then click on DONATIONS
Please help these families in dire need with any amount you can afford. The ***** does not see a cent of any funds sent to Open Arms Costa Rica's PayPal account..
Thank you from everyone here at ****** for stepping up again to help the needy and innocent victims of this devastating natural diaster as you have done in the past. You should see the name Dana XXXXX in the PayPal transaction. Please use the term Natural Diaster Assitance when asked by PayPal or your bank as the reason you are making a donation.
Many thanks to all, wilheim..
PS: All donations from US Residents are tax deductable, just email me at person19481950@yahoo.com with your name and the email address you want Open Arms Costa Rica's accounting deptartment to contact you at.
All your donation and tax information will be private between yourself and Open Arms Costa Rica.. on the top right hand side of the home page of OACR's website..
We are holding a benefit for the affected families on Saturday and I encourage all that are able to contribute to open their wallets and send what they can to Open Arms Costa Rica.
