Surprise storm ravages central, south Pacific coasts
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Just four days after the weather system that would become the deadly tropical storm Agatha moved north, a surprise storm with high winds struck much of the near Pacific coast from Golfito to Jacó.
One fisherman is missing, thousands were without power, and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is closed through the weekend because of fallen trees and damage to trails. Internet and phone lines were down, too.
The storm struck unexpectedly around 9 p.m. Tuesday with 70 kph winds. The reason is what the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional called tropical wave #8, one of those troughs of low pressure that move across the lower latitudes from east to west. The weather institute said that a companion tropical wave, #9, would continue to cause unstable conditions today. There was rain in many parts of the country during Wednesday as a result of this weather condition.
The national emergency commission admitted Wednesday that the intensity shown by the storm generated by the tropical wave took its experts and the weather institute by surprise. The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad also monitors conditions. All three agencies knew the wave was coming but had no idea it would spawn such intense conditions.
The Costa Rica Fishing Report in Quepos said that 12 small boats sank or were missing and that many others suffered damage. The Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas identified the missing fisherman as Lencho Velásquez, 63. He was in the company of two other men on the "Regalo de Dios" that cast off Tuesday afternoon.
Early Wednesday the other two men came ashore and sought aid because the boat had sunk. The mishap took place at Punta Catedral at the mouth of the Río Naranjo en Quepos.
The Ministerio de Salud officially closed the Manuel Antonio park at 3 p.m. although the storm
had closed it effectively hours before. Some stranded tourists had to walk out, and park rangers
said that trails were damaged and there was no power or telephones. The ministry said that pedestrians could enter the park to visit the beach but they would be on their own.
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad said that about 6,750 power customers were affected in Quepos, Parrita and Jacó. Power poles toppled, and transformers crashed to the pavement in some areas when the storm hit. Some residents said they were without power for 12 hours over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Others still have no electricity.
The company known as ICE said that it was trying to reestablish fixed line telephone service to 2,500 customers and to hook up about 500 customers of the firm's wide band Internet service. That was the latest report at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The company said it was bringing in more emergency crews.
The emergency commission said that 60 homes were flooded. It declared an alert for the entire coast from Jacó south. The commission said that it was providing bedding and other needs for an estimated 1,000 persons whose homes had been damaged or destroyed by the sudden storm.
The commission reported damage in the Golfito communities of Bella Vista, Golfito Centro, Las Viquillas, Los Ángeles de Río Largarto and Bambel 2. In the canton of Aguirre the commission reported damage in Quepos Centro, Finca la Paquita, El Cocal, Damas, Barrio La Inmaculada, Barrio Paraíso, Lomas de Alvarado and Hotel Villa de la Selva, as well as Manuel Antonio. In Parrita, there was damage in La Julieta and Palo Seco.
The regional coordinator of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Alexis Muñoz, said that falling trees caused damage at clinics and hospitals in the area. In Parrita the storm shredded a tent that had been put up for a vaccination program. The Hospital de Quepos continued to function because it has its own electrical generator.
There were downpours in the afternoon and evening in many locations in Costa Rica Wednesday. More are predicted for today.
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