Floods force evacuations in Costa Rica

Heavy rains in central and eastern Costa Rica have triggered floods that have forced evacuations and may be responsible for at least one death, relief workers said. A spokesman for the local Red Cross said that four people are missing, down from eight earlier, according to the (CNN). The Costa Rican government has declared a “yellow alert” in various parts of Cartago, a central province where one person was reported dead. The person was rescued after a landslide, but died on the way to the hospital from injuries and heart failure. A yellow alert is also in effect for parts of Limon, an eastern province. More than 1,500 people have taken refuge at shelters and others are waiting to be rescued, according to the Red Cross. Heavy rain is typical this time of year in Costa Rica, where the rainy season runs roughly from May-November.