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Aug
5
Fire at Telephone Office in Limon Cuts Off Puerto Viejo and Cahuita Service
August 5, 2010 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | 4 Comments
New telecommunications equipment was flown into Limon to restore service. Photo by Guillermo Solano, courtesy of La Nación
A fire at the ICE Telephone Company building in Limon on Tuesday night left thousands of Caribbean residents without phone, internet and cellular services. ICE said services were restored by 3pm Wednesday but some reported continuing problems after this.
The fire took out landline, internet and users on the old cellular network. While the GSM cellular network was not affected it was overburdened and often not available either.
The agency flew in new equipment and worked first on restoring 9-1-1 emergency services.
More: Tico Times: Telecommunication blackout paralyzes Limón, La Nación: Incendio en agencia colapsó telecomunicaciones en Limón
May
20
Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica
May 20, 2010 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | Comments Off
Everyone’s talking about it in Puerto Viejo – the earthquake that shook Costa Rica at 4:16pm today.
The earthquake was reported to be of magnitude 6.1 on the Richter scale and the epicenter was 30km southwest of Quepos in the Pacific Ocean.
While the earthquake was felt in many places in Costa Rica including the Caribbean Coast there are no reports of injuries or significant damage.
More: La Nación: ‘Ojalá todos estén bien’, dice Laura Chinchilla tras sismo de 6,1 grados
Mar
6
Surviving A Massive Earthquake and Tsunami
March 6, 2010 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | Comments Off
With the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the topic of what to do in an earthquake has been very much on our minds.
Costa Rica is by no means exempt from quakes, with a number of fault lines criss-crossing the country and a history of earthquakes. Although as the experience in Chile has shown, a country with experience dealing with earthquakes is likely to fare much better than one where it is a rare event.
The Caribbean Coast could be particularly vulnerable. Not because it is on a particular fault line but because the connections to the rest of Costa Rica are so tenuous. There are many bridges to fail that could cut the South Caribbean off from Limon and the rest of the country, leaving residents and tourists trapped here and needing to provide for themselves possibly for many days. The coastal location also means that Tsunami are a threat.
In April 1991, a massive earthquake struck Costa Rica and Steve Casimiro who was in Puerto Viejo at the time has just written a haunting and very informative first person account of the quake and surviving the days after at The Adventure Life.
There are many informative guides online about what one should do to survive an earthquake such as this one at Geology.com. And it starts with being prepared now. Having basic supplies on hand and knowing what to do when the quake hits.
Jan
14
Local community reaches out to Haiti
January 14, 2010 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Helping Out | 1 Comment
Costa Rica has had it’s share of natural disasters and is no stranger to earthquakes.
So many in the local community have been profoundly touched by the pictures coming out of Port-au-Prince, knowing that it could’ve just as easily been San Jose or some other part of Costa Rica.
The department of immigration puts the official Haitian population of Costa Rica at only 215 residents but the actual number is probably much higher. Many of them work as mobile vendors in San José. Those interviewed on Teletica last night were anxiously waiting news from home as to whether their families were okay.
A number of local businesses we spoke to have already sent donations:
- Puerto Viejo Satellite $100
- Gecko Trail Adventures $200
Donations within Costa Rica can be sent to the Banco de Costa Rica or Banco Nacional accounts set up for this. International organizations which are collecting donations include Doctors without Borders who have worked extensively in Haiti for many years (Their US, Canadian and other national offices all accept online donations) and and the International Red Cross.
Nov
9
Motorcycle accident claims two lives
November 9, 2009 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | Comments Off
An accident on Friday night tragically claimed the lives of two young men when the motorcycle they were riding hit a post.
The victims were identified as Humberto Traña Medrano and Guillermo Quesada. They were apparently best friends who worked together at a local restaurant and played on a soccer team together.
They were leaving work to return home and change clothes when they came around a corner and encountered a slow moving vehicle. In trying to avoid hitting the vehicle they hit the post instead. According to the Red Cross, they were both instantly killed.
The accident happened 200 meters south of the entrance of town, in front of Abastecedor El Cruce.
More: La Nación: Motociclistas mueren al chocar contra un poste
Oct
16
Death at Cocles raises questions about lifeguard service
October 16, 2009 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | 28 Comments
The apparent drowning of a 50 year old man yesterday on Cocles Beach has some asking questions about the quality of the lifeguard services.
Cocles Beach is the only lifeguard patrolled beach on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, a venture paid for by local hotels and businesses.
Yet witnesses to the drowning yesterday said that while onlookers tried to resuscitate the victim, the guard continued working on craft projects in his tower and did not attempt to help.
Local surf conditions can be rather unpredictable, especially for tourists used to much calmer waters. This incident is another reminder to follow water safety rules.
The Talamanca News would welcome more information and comments on this incident, especially from those who may have witnessed it first hand.
Update: Further information was supplied by Eddie Ryan of La Costa de Papito hotel, which has been one of the steadfast supporters of the lifeguard program from the beginning. Ryan sadly confirmed that indeed a man died on Thursday on Cocles beach. But that essentially he did not drown but after eating a heavy lunch and drinking a few beers shortly before, either choked on the food or had a heart attack. He was in waist deep water and never screamed or made any gestures to indicate distress. His wife was seated on the beach near the shoreline and didn’t see what happened. Someone noticed he was floating and the lifeguard and a few other people dragged him out of the water and the lifeguard tried to resuscitate him to no avail.
Ryan said that while he was not there during the incident, he talked with different people about what had happened when he got to the beach.
Ryan also noted that the lifeguard program is operating at half speed for the last two weeks with only one lifeguard on duty instead of two because of insufficient funds. This will continue for at least 4 more weeks taking us into times of rough seas and dangerous currents compared with the flat sea conditions recently. With one lifeguard on duty only prevention service with flags and a whistle is offered because it is necessary to have two lifeguards on duty to safely perform a rescue.
If you would like to make a donation towards supporting the lifeguard service, you can do so using a credit card on the Puerto Viejo Satellite donation page. Puerto Viejo Satellite will cover the credit card processing costs so that 100% of your donation will get to the program. Local business owners who do not already support the program are encouraged to pledge ongoing support and can contact Eddie Ryan at La Costa de Papito.
Donation update. Thanks to the following folks who have donated through Puerto Viejo Satellite to support the program:
• Chet Ort $75
Apr
3
Interest in Puerto Viejo Continues to Grow
April 3, 2009 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Crime & Punishment, Site news, Tourism | 2 Comments
In these challenging economic times, many local businesses seen a drop in business. But there is some good news too: interest in Puerto Viejo and the South Caribbean coast of Costa Rica remains very high. You can see this by looking at the growth of visitors to Puerto Viejo Satellite. In the quarter just finished, there were over 40,000 unique visitors to the website!
Traffic has grown at a very fast rate ever since the website has launched and the website is bigger and better than ever with:
• More listings than ever
• More features than ever like the recently added restaurant page or the listing detail pages (see this one for example)
• More complete information than ever – additional transport options for example added to the transport page as we find out about them
The area has also benefited from the marketing savvy of the owner one of the newer hotels in town, Banana Azul. Banana Azul was recently even mentioned on the Today show as a affordable vacation spot in these recessionary times. As more people find Banana Azul, they also discover the whole area as they discover the place that is a good fit for them or visit local restaurants and tour providers.
The growing tour company Gecko Trail Adventures has also contributed. Their Costa Rica tour packages have a strong emphasis on the Caribbean coast and so many people discover this area even if they don’t know Manzanillo from Montezuma.
All in all, we see great things ahead!
Nov
28
Upland Damage Extensive; Help Sought
November 28, 2008 | Tags: 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.
More:
- La Nacion: CNE estima las pérdidas por lluvias en ¢42.000 millones
- Teletica (video): Lluvias generan millonarias pérdidas en Limón
Nov
26
Temporary Bridge to Puerto Viejo Opened
November 26, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Transport | 1 Comment
| Correction: I had previously published incorrectly that this crossing was suitable for all vehicles but apparently they are asking that large trucks and buses not use the temporary crossing. Regular passenger vehicles, smaller trucks and shuttle vans such as Interbus and Grayline are operating across the temporary span though. |
Construction crews worked all day today and a temporary crossing, suitable for all but buses and large trucks, is now open where the damaged bridge was on Playa Negra.
 Construction crews finishing temporary crossing where the bridge at Playa Negra into Puerto Viejo had washed out. |
Nov
26
Donation Drive Launched to Help Flood Victims
November 26, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Helping Out | 2 Comments
Greencoast.com and ATEC, with the Tourism Chamber, the Biofuel Cooperative, Associacion ANAI, local pulperias and PuertoViejoSatellite.com are working together to gather donations of food, water, clothing, money, medicine, tools, toys, holiday gifts, and cash.
 This family cannot return to their house in Celia, Talamanca so they wait for help. Photo by Martin Caraval, courtesy of La Nacion. |
The community of Yorkin in Alta-Talamanca lost its bridge, its lodge, its water and septic systems and needs help rebuilding. Many other communities are also suffering.
ReciCaribe’s truck will bring up donated items this week and again as long as we keep getting donations—they lost their crops they will need help for a long time.
Look for a donations box at the following supermarkets (soon to be more) or bring donations to the following places listed below.
- Pulperia La Violeta, Playa Negra
- Super Buen Precio, Puerto Viejo
- Super Pirrilpli, Cocles
- Duende Gourment, Playa Chiquita
or to:
- ATEC in Puerto Viejo 2750 0191
- Aguas Claras in Playa Chiquita 2750 0131
- The Mariposario in Cahuita, contact Leda 2755 0108 or 8844 8032
- ANAI in Hone Creek 2756 8021
- ANAI in San Jose, contact Diego 2224 3570 or diego@anaicr.org
100% of cash donations will be given to flood victims will be completely transparent and will be posted on here on the Talamanca News and on Greencoast.com.
Credit card donations can be made at www.puertoviejosatellite.com/donate.php. Puerto Viejo Satellite will cover the credit card fees so that 100% of your donation will be forwarded to help out.
You can also make a donation through Banco Nacional so no fees are paid. Please see account details on Greencoast.com.
Please consider at this time of giving thanks, that we have our health and safety, and that we are thankful that we are able to be generous to our neighbors.
Please contact ATEC with ideas, questions, help, or concerns:+506 2750 0398 or atecmail@gmail.com
Nov
24
Rain to Diminish Tue and Wed; Back to Normal by Thursday
November 24, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | 1 Comment
According to the National Metorological Institute, the rains will diminish gradually Tuesday and Wednesday and we’ll be back to normal weather by Thursday.
The rain has stopped falling for now but they are forecasting a return to heavy rains tonight which is why the red alert remains in force for the Atlantic coast.
There’s even a forecast of a little sun to sneak through the clouds by tomorrow afternoon.
Nov
24
Caribbean Coast Cut Off by Rising Waters
November 24, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Transport | 1 Comment
Continued rain and rising waters have caused more bridges to become impassable and landslides to close roads on the Caribbean Coast.
Cruz Roja rescues resident stranded by rising waters
La Nación is reporting the closure at 1 a.m. this morning of the Braulio Carrillo highway between San Jose and Limon due to 3 landslides on the route. As well the alternate route through Turrialba is also blocked due to landslides between Turrialba and Siquirres. Finally they also say there is a road closure between Siquirres and Limon due to rising waters of the Chirripó River.
Earlier unconfirmed reports also said that the highway between Cahuita and Limon is also blocked due to rising waters of the Rio Estrella. However, we just crossed the bridge and although the water is running fast there is no sign that the bridge was or is about to be overwhelmed by the water. A JAPDEVA employee stated that the full route between Hone Creek and Limon is open. JAPDEVA and ICE crews were out in force on the roads.
Other rumours said that the bridge linking BriBri and Sixaola to Hone Creek and on the rest of the country is also unpassable but this is unconfirmed. If anyone has photos or verification of this either way, please email editor@talamancanews.com.
MEPE´s San Jose office advised at 2pm today that there will be no more buses today but tommorow they advise simply ”vamos a ver” (let´s wait and see).
Besides the road closures, more than 4,000 people have been left temporarily homeless by the rain. The Cruz Roja has more than 50 staff working in the area and is mobilizing auxiliary forces to try and rescue people stranded by the storm.
Photos and further updates will be published as they become available.
Nov
23
Flooding Slams Caribbean Coast; Bridge Out to Puerto Viejo
November 23, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters, Transport | 16 Comments
Five days of torrential rains (and its started to rain again today) have caused massive flooding and a state of emergency to be declared on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Yesterday afternoon one of the bridges into Puerto Viejo washed out and it’s not clear when the heavy equipment needed to fix it would be brought in. The damage is extensive although pedestrians and bikes are making their way across a plank where the bridge came away from the road and then on to the bridge, the remains of which are listing at a 30 degree angle.
Bridge out into Puerto Viejo
By yesterday evening, the ground was so saturated and the rain was continuing to fall that water levels kept rising. At Hotel Banana Azul, where this reporter is located, the water rose about a meter in a matter of hours, cresting just half an inch short of the level of the main floor of the hotel before it started to recede.
Other places were not so lucky. Many houses were flooded and had to be evacuated. At one hotel several trees were reported to have fallen on top of several of the cabinas.
Buses and some transportation continue to run however as the roads to Limon and to San Jose remain open. The MEPE transport bus is running into Puerto Viejo as far as Pulperia Violeta (Jeffrey’s) where people are walking to and from town. Some other forms of transport have been canceled leaving travelers stranded and the bus oversold.
Lining up to leave at the bus stop about 1.5km north of downtown
The communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva and Manzanillo are so far operating fairly normally with no major shortages reported. But getting supplies in will be difficult. Without the bridge on the main road into Puerto Viejo the only other option is Margarita Road, a 4WD only road over the mountains between Playa Cocles and the main highway to Sixaola.
Pedestrians and bikes are still making it across the bridge
Meanwhile La Nacion is reporting more than 2,000 people, mostly in smaller towns, needing shelter with some communities completely unreachable.
Jul
24
Drowning victim at Rockin J’s
July 24, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | 2 Comments
The tricky waves and currents of our local beaches have claimed another victim. Tony Nicolais, a 38-year-old DJ from Orland Park, Illinois, died Monday while snorkeling in choppy water on the beach near Rocking J’s, where he had been staying.
“It wasn’t (good) snorkeling conditions,” said Joseph John Korchmoros, owner of the Hotel. “There were waves, there was current. You would never go snorkeling in that condition. The visibility was maybe one or two feet.”
A neighbor alerted the hotel staff that something was wrong with a man in the water.
“Someone said there was a man floating strangely,” Korchmoros said. “Me and another guy ran out and tried to resuscitate him.”
The Red Cross of Talamanca and medics arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and also tried CPR to no avail.
“When the Red Cross reached him, there was nothing they could do,” said Melvin Marin of the Puerto Viejo police. “The guy was dead.”
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m.
Some water safety tips:
• Ask locals or at your hotel about the conditions before getting in the water.
• Remember that other than the beach at Playa Cocles our beaches are not patrolled by lifeguards.
• Go with a buddy!
• If you get caught in a riptide or current that is taking you out, swim alongside the current and try and make your way in diagonally rather than fighting it head on. Whatever you do, don’t panic and exhaust yourself — if you can’t get in, stay calm and try and attract the attention of someone on shore.
Source: Tico Times: U.S. deejay dies on Caribbean beach
Mar
29
Drowning in Cocles among 41 Nationwide Semana Santa Deaths
March 29, 2008 | Tags: Accidents and Natural Disasters | 4 Comments
La Nación is reporting 41 violent deaths nationwide during Semana Santa including 15 deaths due to traffic accidents, 11 homicides, 9 drownings, 5 from flooding and 1 in a fire. Suicides were not included in the statistics.
Among the victims was Fernando Gómez, 22, who drowned Saturday at 1 p.m. at Playa Cocles.
More: La Nación: Semana Santa dejó 41 muertos en forma violenta
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