At least 17 dead, 13 missing after landslide in central Costa Rica

[News_Editor]

At least 17 dead, 13 missing after landslide in central Costa Rica

2010-11-05 03:17:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (BNO NEWS) -- A massive landslide on Thursday killed at least 17 people while 13 others remain missing in central Costa Rica as houses were wiped away by land and mud, officials said.

The disaster took place in the early hours of Thursday in San ode Escazú in San Jose, killing 17 people including eight women, five men and four children.

Rescue teams and law enforcement agents are in the area searching for survivors with the support of local residents. Authorities fear that the 13 missing individuals may be underneath the mud, land, rocks and debris that came from the Pico Blanco mountain.

Costa Rica's National Emergency Commission (CNE) informed that the bad weather registered this morning also seriously affected other regions in the Central American country. Serious damages were reported in the central and south Pacific area where many communities were left isolated.

The towns of Parrita, Garabito and Aguirre were affected as residences and bridges were destroyed. In Parrita, the Red Cross informed that an unknown number of residents are currently missing.

Earlier, President Laura Chinchilla requested aerial support from neighboring countries in order to access the isolated areas to assist residents. The president said that she spoke with other leaders and accepted to aid the country but did not disclose which countries will support the rescue efforts.

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