Sunday, October 19, 2008

Zware regenval treft Costa Rica.. ( bbc.com)

Zware regenval treft Costa Rica..



Coast Rica receives monthly rainfall in just four days by Dan Corbett

Incessant heavy rain over the last four days in Costa Rica has resulted in widespread flooding and landslides. The week-long rains have led many rivers to burst their banks, with the floods causing widespread destruction and death.

Flood warnings remain in effect from northern Costa Rica to southern Mexico, as a result of the rain. A tropical depression in the western Pacific was responsible for bringing the heavy rain, and despite not strengthening into a named storm, created intense downpours.

Costa Rica’s Meteorological Institute (IMN) said that the amount of rainfall that has fallen over some parts of the country over the past few days was equivalent to October’s entire monthly rainfall. According to the organisation, the intensity of the rainfall in the capital of San Jose has not been experienced since 1944.

Over the last 24 hours, the rainfall has been slowly easing, with forecasters at the IMN predicting further improvement in the weather through Saturday.