Torrential Rains hit Central America
30/10/2007
Recent torrential rains in Central America have caused chaos for local people, many thousands of whom have had to be evacuated from their homes. Rivers have burst their banks, flooding vast areas of land with a number of people having lost their lives. Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica have been badly hit and relief operations have had to be undertaken to rescue people from their homes. Many tens of thousands of people have been affected, in countries that have only just got over the effects of Hurricane Felix last month.
In Rivas, Nicaragua, the town’s new SOS Children’s Village were completely flooded for several days. Only semi occupied, the four families currently living in the village were evacuated for four days, following recommendations by the National System of Prevention and Mitigation of Disasters (SINAPRED). Fortunately, everyone is safe and well.
The floods caused damage to a water engine in the treatment plant as well as the breaking of the drinking water pipeline. These damaged items have already been repaired by the same companies that originally supplied them, which means the facilities are clean and without water accumulation, even if the rains should continue. Celebrations to mark the opening of the village were planned for 19 October, but these have been postponed until next month.
Fortunately only two SOS Children’s Villages in Costa Rica, both on the outskirts of the capital San José, were affected by the rains. In Santa Ana, the village was without water for two days, and the facilities at Tres Ríos were partially flooded and without telephone connection over the weekend. The situation is now under control in both villages and preventative action is being taken should the rain continue.
Relevant Countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua.