Costa Ricans Assist Haiti Earthquake Rescue & Relief

Haiti's tragic earthquake reminded me that one year has passed since a 6.1 Richter quake shattered the lives of Costa Rica's living near the epicenter, at Cinchona de Sarapiqui. The village was competely destroyed and about 30 people were killed during the January 9, 2009 tremblor.

"In my opinion, no one can return to this place," commented Ignacio Chaves, geologist for the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) after reviewing the area, where high rainfall, steep slopes, and deforestation exacerbated the damage and future danger. Daniel Gallardo, head of the CNE, said the entire area should be declared uninhabitable.

Nonetheless, the area's main attraction, La Paz Waterfall Gardens [2], reopened in June 2009, and its Peace Lodge hotel was back in business the following month following extensive repairs.

Meanwhile, CNE sent a rescue and relief team of 55 experts and the Costa Rican Cruz Roja [3] (Red Cross) also sent send rescue personnel and equipment to Haiti following the 7.0 Richter earthquake that ripped Port-au-Prince apart on January 12, 2010. Costa Rica's National Police also sent 20 officers trained in search and rescue missions. By January 20, Costa Rica's Cruz Roja had collected 244 million colons (about $436,000) plus 10 tons of donations for Haiti's earthquake victims.

For further information about travel in Costa Rica, buy Moon Costa Rica [4]

Photo © Cruz Roja/Red Cross