Friday, January 16, 2009

23 bodies found and many more injured, several still missing

The amount of bodies recovered after last weeks earthquake has risen to 23, over one hundred people were injured and recieved attention from the red cross, over 500 families are now homeless and awaiting for help while they spend the days and nights in shelters.
Over 20 people are missing and have not been found yet.
One of the most difficult rescues was the one done by the Colombian rescue squad who showed their repelling skills while recovering the body of a Dos Pinos (milk company) employee who was in his car trapped in the middle of a cliff completely buried except for a hand that was showeing outside of the vehicle.
Police, volunteers and rescue experts continue to search for missing residents, 26 kilometers of roads are completely destroyed and the government is analizing whether to reconstruct the roads or build a different road from Vara Blanca to San Miguel of Sarapiqui.
Food and clothing has been donated by several charity groups and private citizens such as the Lions Club of Costa Rica, Channel 7 news, Red Cross, the government of the USA donated $50,000 and the government of Colombia $100,000.
Loses from the earthquake amount to over US 100 million dollars.
9 counties hve been declared in a state of emergency, they are Alajuela, Grecia, Poas, Alfaro Ruiz, Valverde Vega, Heredia, Barva, Santa Barbara and Sarapiquí.
The area where the most disaster occured was in Cinchona a small town which virtually dissapeared, Vara Blanca, Poas, Poasito, Fraijanes as well as the waterfalls in that area.
The families in the shelters are needing medicine supplies, underwer, personal hygene items such as toothpste, soap, toothbrushes, tapons, diapers, shampoo, medicines, batteries, dogfood, and veterinary supplies etc
Many strong aftershocks are still being felt, the last aftershock was about 30 seconds ago, my guess is that it is a 4.8 on the richter scale.

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