Costa Rica: Floods - Oct 2022

During the early morning of 8 October, Tropical Storm Julia generated rains in the entire national territory of Costa Rica, particularly in the South Pacific, where effects are reported due to overflowing of rivers and streams. The accumulated rainfall according to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN by its Spanish acronym) exceeded 200 mm in the extreme south of the country. As a result, there are high saturation values in the soils, particularly in the South Zone, North Pacific, and North Zone. The event maintained its influence on the territory, particularly in the South Pacific, and gradually dissipated, as well as in the North Pacific and North Zone, where weather conditions remained.

The heavy rains caused flooding in several areas of the country, mainly in the South Pacific regions. The National Emergency Commission (CNE) counted a total of 379 incidents associated with Hurricane Julia in Costa Rica, with the highest number in Golfito with 212 reports, Osa with 63 incidents and Buenos Aires with 35 reports. In Coto Brus there were 19, in Pérez Zeledón 15, in Corredores seven and in Abangares five. As of 10 October, 19 collective centres were available, where 825 people have been sheltered. 13 of the shelters are located in the Brunca Region with 591 people sheltered, four in the Chorotega region with 224 people, one in the Central Pacific with eight people and one in the Northern Zone with two people. (IFRC, 25 Oct 2022)

On 1 November 2022, according to the Costa Rica National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Attention (CNE as per its acronym in Spanish), more than 1,500 flooding incidents were recorded in the month of October, the highest monthly number in 2022 thus far, with the greatest impacts in the South Pacific and Central Pacific, and particularly in the cantons of Golfito (293), Desamparados (214), Garabito (136), Osa (128), Quepos (119) and Parrita (115). (PAHO, 02 Nov 2022)