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12 December 2002 by Cristina Estrada and Elizabeth Sagastume in Panama A total of six people died, nine are still missing and 53 were injured when the provinces of Limon in Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro in Panama suffered severe flooding and landslides following two weeks of heavy rains. An estimated of 65,000 people - 50,000 in Costa Rica and 15,000 in Panama - have been directly affected by the floods, which have inundated more than 110 communities. Costa Rica's National Meteorological Institute said a month's worth of rain fell in one night on November 23-24. The government has declared a state of alert in the province of Limon. "An estimated 5,000 persons were evacuated to temporary shelters supported by the Emergency National Commission and the Costa Rican Red Cross" says Marvin Hidalgo, Communications Director of the Costa Rican Red Cross. A total of 2,040 persons are still living in 15 temporary shelters. Despite the fact that the number of temporary shelters and evacuated families has fallen, the situation remains serious for most residents of the area. "In some areas the water level rose to one and a half metres, affecting entire communities. There are still isolated areas," Hidalgo says. It is estimated that 25,000 houses have been affected and several secondary roads damaged by the floods. The distribution of drinking water has collapsed in many areas, because wells have been contaminated by flood water. Limon is a province where banana plantations are the source of main income generation, and approximately 70 per cent of the area's agricultural production has been damaged. In Panama, the province of Bocas del Toro, on the border with Costa Rica, has also been affected by the rains. Around 80 Red Cross volunteers worked in the evaluation of damage and assessment of needs, the distribution of humanitarian aid and providing first aid. The Federation's Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) provided the Panamanian Red Cross with 500 kitchen kits, 100 blankets and 500 plastic sheets to be delivered to the affected communities in Panama. The PADRU Water and Sanitation Delegate will travel to Costa Rica in the coming days to support the programme to clean dozens of contaminated wells in Limon province. Every December and January, low pressure systems affect the Atlantic coast of Central America. The exposed Costa Rican coastal provinces are more vulnerable to floods during the annual Hurricane season. Last May, floods in the same area also affected 12,000 people. The International Federation is evaluating the possibility of launching an Emergency Appeal for Costa Rica and Panama. Related links: Central America: regional documents Costa Rica: appeals updates and reports Panama: appeals, updates and reports Pan-American Disaster Response Unit Make a donation |
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