• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 11 / 08 / 2010

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At least 20 people were killed and nearly ten have been reported as missing in the wake of a landslide caused by heavy rain of the last few days in a poor neighbourhood of San Jose, according to relief organizations.

  An avalanche of mud and rocks from Pico Blanco fell ver poor houses in Las Lajas neighborhood, in San Antonio de Escazu municipality.

"It is said that 20 people were killed, including six children, six women and eight men" said spokesman for the National Emergency Commission Reinaldo Carballo.

At least 1,500 people from the metropolitan area of the Pacific had to be taken to 30 temporary shelters, according to authorities.

Several communities were cut off, and roads and bridges were damaged by heavy rain, expected to continue through Friday.

President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, requested assistance in air transportation from neighboring countries to reach worst-hit areas.

Heavy rain also fractured the Parrita dam, near the Pacific coast, damaging coffee and vegetable crops.

Minister of the Presidency Marco Vargas said the government might declare a national emergency.
 
Sorce: ACN