Nov

28

Upland Damage Extensive; Help Sought

Posted by Editor | November 28, 2008 | Categories: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Helping Out | 1 Comment


The Caracol River washed away the bridge which was the access to the community of Los Ángeles de Río Jiménez de Guácimo.
Photo by Mario Rojas, courtesy of La Nacion.

While the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Cocles and Punta Uva are mostly getting back to normal after the flooding, the upland communities where tourists rarely go remain severely affected. This includes the town of Sixaola on the Panama border so the land crossing to Panama (a frequent route for travelers is Puerto Viejo to Bocas, Panama) remains closed for now.

The emergency commission (CNE) is estimating some 42 billion colones (77 million US$) in damages to highways, streets, agricultural crops, damaged wells and aqueducts, clinics and schools.   The impact beyond this to individual homeowners and in lost business will increase this amount greatly.

CNE also estimates some 46,000 persons affected by the flooding including 5.497 who remain in shelters, unable to return to their homes.  They are also reporting that although the water has receded in most places there remain 35 communities whose access to the outside world is cut off by the flooding.

Help is still sought as well. The Cruz Roja is mounting a national campaign and locally the relief effort is being coordinated by ATEC which has setup pickup points locally where donations of food, water, clothing, money, medicine, tools, toys, holiday gifts, and cash.  Puerto Viejo Satellite and the Talamanca News are helping out by processing credit card donations for people so that people can help from whereever they are. We will cover all credit card fees so 100% of your donation will go to the relief effort.

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Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. John Wheatley (No profile image? Get yours at gravatar.com) John Wheatley on November 29, 2008 12:42 pm

    According to BocasShuttle.com, the border opened yesterday, Friday November 28. And water transport the islands of Bocas del Toro is up and running again, as is the Bocas Shuttle. I trust BocasShuttle.com’s post, because I wrote it, and I know :-)

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