Bridge Over Rio Montaña Has Foundation Problems

• Ostional is Semi-Isolated • Crossing Open Only to Motorcycles and Pedestrians

By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo

The National Roadways Council (CONAVI) inspected the bridge over Rio Montaña after the 6.6 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, October 23rd and determined that it doesn’t have structural damage; however, failures were detected in the refill approaching the bridge. Mauricio Sojo, CONAVI engineer in the Nicoya area who inspected the bridge hours after the quake occurred, reported that “the structure in itself doesn’t have any problem, but the refills approaching the bridge are damaged as a result of the strong rains in the last few days as well as the quake.” According to Sojo, the bridge that connects the communities of Nosara and Ostional is a priority for CONAVI, and they are currently evaluating the costs and when they will be able to work on the structure. “We are analyzing the costs and the moment in which we will work on the structure, which could be next week,” he explained.   This bridge, which cost more than $1.5 million, was not officially finished by CONAVI, so in June this year, area residents decided to refill both accesses to the bridge with stone. Presently, the community of Ostional is semi-isolated since access from Nosara only permits motorcycles and pedestrians to cross and, to the north, the bridge over the Marbella river is damaged.         According to neighbor Rolf Liichtenstein, “unfortunately the new refill that CONAVI did yesterday (Tuesday) has washed out again with the tremor and the rain.” Liichtenstein said that only cars and motorcycles can cross the bridge, but big trucks and buses cannot.

Strongest replica yet near Sámara rattles country

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The shock from Mother Nature Tuesday night was not only sharp but long. The better-than-6-point quake offshore in the Pacific lasted at least 25 seconds. The quake was felt in nearly all of the country. Recorder displays at the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica show that some sensors continued to vibrate for a half hour. In fact, one hour and 12 minutes after the 6:45 p.m. quake another took place in the same general area. That one was estimated at 4.4 magnitude. The magnitude of the 6:45 p.m. quake was estimated differently by different agencies. The U.S. Geological Survey said 6.5. The Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico at Universidad de Costa Rica initially said 6.2. At the Laboratorio de Ingeniería Sísmica the estimated was 6.3. That agency said the 6:45  p.m. quake was 9.3 kilometers south of Sámara and 22.9 kilometers southeast of Nosara in the Pacific. That is about the same area where a 7.6 magnitude quake took place Sept. 5. The 7:55 p.m. quake epicenter was estimated at 28.6 kilometers south southeast of Nosara and

Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica graphic Flag shows estimated epicenter of 6-point quake. 34.6 kilometers west southwest of Sámara. There also was a 3.6-magnitude quake at 7:43 p.m. with an epicenter below the mountains east of Samara. All over the country individuals reacted to the movement although there was little report of damage other than falling objects. Residents still are jumpy from the Sept. 5 quake and predictions by scientists that another big one is likely. The quakes Tuesday are considered replications of the Sept. 5 event. There have been thousands, but the 6:45 p.m. quake was the strongest yet. The cause is the subduction of the Coco tectonic plate under the lighter Caribbean plate on which Costa Rica rides.

500 Evacuated from Flooding in Pacific Costa Rica

Friday, October 19th, 2012 | Filed under Pacific Central Regional News

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) today declared a green alert (preventive) for Pacific provinces (mainly Puntarenas) of Costa Rica due to heavy rains that have caused flooding and the evacuation of 495 people.
The CNE said in a statement that the alert was streamlined with the transfer of personnel to the area and opened five shelters for homeless mobilize in the province of Guanacaste (North Pacific), most of them in the canton of Santa Cruz.
In Guanacaste reported four rivers overflowing and at least 34 affected communities, in which there are 595 houses flooded and three bridges affected.
In addition, there are small communities isolated Lagarto, Marbella, Deer, Ostional and San Juanillo, all in Guanacaste,said the CNE.
In the province of Puntarenas (Pacific central and south), the CNE said that three rivers overflowing, but so far no evacuees.
The National Meteorological Institute reported that the storm is caused by a low pressure system and heavy rains will remain at least until tomorrow.
EFE
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San José Costa Rica