Natural Disasters in Costa Rica

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are quite common in Costa Rica with small ones occurring daily and tremors strong enough to feel a few times a year. Major quakes strike about once a decade but no tourist has ever been killed or seriously injured by an earthquake in Costa Rica.

The most recent deadly quake struck north of the central valley January 8, 2009 and claimed 34 lives in and around the small village of Cinchona. Although 369 tourists were evacuated from La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Peace lodge they escaped with only a few minor injuries probably due to the higher quality modern construction techniques at the major attraction. It took over four years to repair the roads from Alajuela into the area and north to San Miguel.

In 2004 a magnitude 6.2 quake centered on the Pacific Coast near the Pacific coast tourist destination Manuel Antonio killed 8 and damaged several buildings and roads. The largest quake in modern history (magnitude 7.6) struck the Caribbean coast in April of 1991 killing 47 and damaging the Limón rail line so severely that repairs have never been attempted. The coral offshore from Cahuita in the national park was permanently lifted about three feet severely damaging the shallow portions of the reef.

The tourist infrastructure and modern areas in Costa Rica are generally well prepared for earthquakes. Building standards include earthquake “proof” engineering to prevent collapses and natural gas pipes are not used which greatly reduces the danger from fires. Emergency personnel are well trained and responded quickly and efficiently to the 2009 quake.

Volcanoes in Costa Rica

The same plate tectonics involved in creating Costa Rica’s earthquakes create a line of volcanoes over 130 volcanoes varying from completely dormant to exuding lava extending down the spine of the northern half of the country. The activity levels of the individual volcanoes vary widely and while the most famous, Arenal volcano has gone quiet others have been deemed off limits due to increases in activity.

Arenal volcano puffs smoke — Some resorts and spas are built within the evacuation zone of Arenal volcano but it’s been quiet recently

Visitor’s centers on Poás and Irazú, and hot spring resorts directly in the path of lava flows at Arenal belie the fact that these are active volcanoes.

A larger than usual (but still much smaller than what it’s capable of) eruption at Arenal in 2000 killed two people and chased everyone out of the pools at Tabacón Resort.

All of the deaths directly attributed to volcanic activity in Costa Rica occurred at Arenal which erupted in 1968 after centuries of near inactivity destroying the village of Tabacón and killing seventy-eight people.

The lava has flowed and ebbed continuously over the ensuing fifty years but the danger zone is well defined and deaths have been limited to a few foolish adventure seekers who ventured into prohibited zones close to the active cone. Arenal has been silent for over a decade but there are still dangerous gas emissions and rock slides.

In 2015 Volcan Turrialba ejected enough ash and cinders to create a cloud large enough to close the SJO international airport 50 km away. It reopened the next morning and no injuries or loss of life was reported. In the subsequent three years airport operations were impacted numerous times and experts predict high levels of activity continue into 2019.

Eruptions at Poás volcano in early 2017 damaged trails and visitor centers, shut down the national park and demonstrated that it was time to stop relying solely on luck to prevent death and injuries to tourists. Bunkers at the visitors center and viewing platforms as well as real time gas monitors and newly trained safety personnel were added for the reopening in 2019.

Costa Rica Tsunamis

A few years ago the tsunami disasters in Southeast Asia and Japan raised awareness that offshore earthquakes can be more devastating than onshore ones. The shape of the seabed off the shores of Costa Rica is not particularly suited to the formation of tsunami waves. Recent major earthquakes off the coast of Chile (> 8.0) and in the central Pacific triggered Tsunami warnings in Costa Rica but all resulted in nearly unnoticeable increases in wave heights on the shores.

In most areas the ground rises sharply away from the beach. There has never been a significant tsunami recorded in Costa Rica but if you are concerned about the possibility of a tsunami “ocean view” accommodations well out of the reach of the waves are readily available in most beach areas.

Hurricanes in Costa Rica

Hurricanes are not a major concern in Costa Rica (see current storms and weather predictions)

Tropical Cyclone Range Map NOAA — As you can see on this map of the range of occurrence of cyclones and hurricanes Costa Rica slips just under the the band of Caribbean and Pacific hurricanes.

The shape of the Gulf of Mexico dictates that the storms turn north and in the hundreds of years of records none had ever made a direct hit (only Hurricane Cesár came close in 1996) until Otto pushed across Northern Costa Rica a few years ago.

Climate change is contributing to more unpredictable weather and in late November of 2016 Tropical Storm Otto moved slowly across the southern Caribbean building strength until it was a category 2 Hurricane when it made landfall on the Costa Rica, Nicaragua border.

Hurrican Otto Path Across Costa Rica — Tropical Storm/Hurricane Otto’s path across Costa Rica in late November 2016

Hurricane Otto Bijagua destruction — ***November 2016 – Hurricane Otto*** – Ten people were killed and couple of tiny communities in northern Costa Rica were devastated by the impact of Hurricane Otto on Thanksgiving. Please consider making a donation directly to the families affected in Bjagua & please share to spread the word. This is a legit fund supported by people we know who live there and all of the money WILL go directly into the community. Skip a cup of coffee this week and send $5.

Tropical storms impact weather hundreds of miles from their path and Costa Rica does experience severe weather and intense rains during the Hurricane season.

Flooding

Flooding is commonplace, nearly routine, during the rainy season in some areas of Costa Rica. In addition to the generalized flooding of low lying areas especially near larger rivers there are two types of floods that pose risks to travelers.

https://www.facebook.com/197330313639479/videos/1440424915996673/

Flash Floods

Localized thunderstorms in the mountains can send heads of water down canyons and valleys creating extremely dangerous flash flood conditions many miles away where the weather may be clear and sunny.

Flash floods can occur any time since the high mountains are relatively wet even in the dry season. However, they are much more common in the rainy season when storms are more frequent and the ground in already saturated.

Trash Floods

Trash that accumulates in the riverbeds and storm drains in the dry season from December through April frequently clogs culverts and underpasses especially in the central valley. The water backs up and overtops the roads when the first heavy rains fall in May and June.

These floods are usually quite localized and result in inconvenience due to damage to the roads and bridges but rarely threaten lives.

Updates & Emergency Warnings

Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias – CNE – National Emergency Commission. The webpage alert system is frequently crashed or not updated. The CNE facebook page seems to be more reliable.