Q COSTA RICA — A landslide blocked the exit of the Los Bambúes Gastronomic Market (Food Fair) in Bolívar de Grecia, Alajuela, trapping some 21 people on Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:46 p.m. after heavy rainfall in the area. The Costa Rican Red Cross and the Fire Department launched an operation to extract the occupants and remove debris and other material accumulated along the access road, obstructing the exit.
According to the Red Cross’s final report, the landslide impacted the business after an accumulation of soil, rocks, and other debris blocked the main entrance.
The emergency services deployed three basic life support units, one advanced life support unit, and two rescue vehicles. Teams worked alongside firefighters to determine an exit route that would allow for the evacuation of the individuals without exposing them to the risk of further falling debris.
Authorities proceeded with caution due to the instability of the terrain. Initially, it was reported that the occupants remained inside the business because the landslide had blocked the only available entrance.
Sebastián Ramírez, the regional operations coordinator for the Costa Rican Red Cross, stated that emergency units successfully extracted all individuals trapped.
While responding to the incident, rescue workers assessed an 11-year-old girl. According to the final report provided by Ramírez, the minor did not require transport to a medical facility.
No other injuries resulting from the landslide were reported. Operations were carried out while agencies monitored site conditions, given the potential for further collapses in the area.
The Fire Department reported that a large volume of soil and debris slid down to the front of the business. The material blocked the main entrance and damaged a vehicle parked nearby.
Fire stations from Sarchí and Grecia deployed to the scene to assist with the response effort. Operations focused on ensuring the safe exit of the occupants and assessing safety conditions around the structure.
Accumulated debris and soil saturation mean the risk of further incidents remains in areas exposed to persistent rainfall.
Rain and Thunderstorm Alert
The incident occurred during a day marked by rainfall across various regions of Costa Rica.
The official weather forecast for this Monday, October 12, 2026:
At the beginning of the week, a rainy weather pattern is expected to persist across the country. However, rainfall activity is forecast to be scattered, with variations in its distribution and intensity across different regions.
During the early morning hours, showers accompanied by thunderstorms are expected over the Caribbean maritime regions and, to a lesser extent, the Pacific maritime regions. These precipitation events could extend toward coastal areas of the country. Elsewhere, skies are expected to remain mostly clear to partly cloudy. In the afternoon, scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast over the Central Valley and the Pacific regions, while isolated rainfall is possible over the mountainous areas of the Caribbean and the Northern Zone.
The heaviest rainfall is expected over the Central and Southern Pacific, where precipitation could persist into the early evening hours and extend toward coastal areas.
The IMN also recommends exercising extreme caution in flood-prone areas, avoiding exposure to thunderstorms, and seeking shelter from wind gusts that could—in isolated cases—reach speeds of 80 km/h.