Urgent Foreign Office alert to Brit holiday hotspot - 'avoid unnecessary travel'
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Costa Rica due to heavy rainfall, with Brits abroad urged to take heed of local authorities' advice
UK holidaymakers have been issued a red alert by the Foreign Office as Costa Rica braces for heavy rainfall. The Foreign Office has strongly advised against travel to the country due to widespread downpours. Belize also issued tropical storm warnings for the Central American nation's coast on Friday, as Tropical Storm Sara continues to drench Honduras' northern coast with torrential rain.
The potential risks of flooding and landslides due to the rainfall in Costa Rica have led to alerts being issued in several areas, with locals being urged to prepare for severe weather conditions. Brits abroad have been instructed to follow the advice of local authorities.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided an update on the heavy rainfall in Costa Rica, stating: "Costa Rica's Emergency Services (CNE) declared a Red Alert (very heavy rainfall) for the entire Pacific Region."
They further added: "They have also declared Orange Alert (heavy rainfall) for the Northern Central Valley and Northern Caribbean regions and Yellow Alert (moderate rainfall) for the Southern Caribbean region.", reports the Express.
"These conditions are expected to remain through to November 18. Flooding and landslides may occur, affecting roads throughout Costa Rica. Please avoid unnecessary travel and remain updated on local weather conditions, while following local authorities' advice."
The Honduran city of San Pedro Sula has already seen a night of continuous rainfall, with no immediate signs of severe flooding, according to the Mirror. The storm, dubbed Sara, is expected to bring 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimetres) of rain, and up to 30 inches in isolated areas of northern Honduras.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center warns that this heavy rainfall could potentially trigger life-threatening floods and landslides.
Late on Thursday, the weather system made landfall approximately 105 miles west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios, on the border between Honduras and Nicaragua, as reported by the centre. This is near Brus Laguna, a village home to around 13,000 people, with few other populated areas nearby.
In November 2020, Honduras was battered by Eta and Iota, both initially making landfall in Nicaragua as powerful Category 4 hurricanes. Northern Honduras bore the brunt of these storms, with torrential rains causing floods that displaced hundreds of thousands of people.