Compared to previous Easter Weeks, this year was calmer for vacationers in Guanacaste. However, two deaths were reported: an eight-year-old girl drowned in a Liberia pool and an adult with the last name of Astorga was hit by a minibus that was en route from Samara to Liberia. That accident happened on Monday, April 14, close to the bridge over the En Medio river in Santa Cruz.
According to a report by the Red Cross Chorotega regional office, last year there were six deaths in Guanacaste during the same period of time.
In addition to the two deaths, the Red Cross reported that the majority of the cases that required their attention were digestive problems and people with high blood pressure.
According to Adolfo Saenz, spokesperson for the Red Cross Chorotega region, the most important situation they had to confront during the weekend (from Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20) was an officer falling off a motorcycle near Nosara. The officer only suffered minor injuries but was transferred to La Anexion Hospital for evaluation.
Saenz indicated that at midday on Sunday, April 20, Red Cross operations were concluded at temporary posts that had been set up for the large influx of tourists. The number of visitors had decreased significantly beginning on Saturday, as the majority headed home to the central valley.
The public force had difficult work to do in other ways, as they carried out operations in collaboration with traffic police. They were able to confiscate a number of motorcycles which had been stolen or didn’t have documents that were up to date.
Omar Chavarria, Nicoya Police Chief, explained that motorcycle theft is becoming more common in the area. “In coordination with traffic police, we were able to confiscate 20 motorcycles, mostly in the areas of San Martin, Mansion and a few in San Antonio. Some had been stolen. Others [were confiscated] because they didn’t have permits. And another point is important: some of those motorcycles were used to commit robbery and other crimes,” explained Chavarria.
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