Three rafts capsized in the Naranjo River in Naranjito de Quepos, Costa Rica at around 3:20 p.m this Saturday, October 20 causing the death of four foreign tourists ( now known to be American), one more is still missing, confirmed the Ministry of Public Security during a press conference held at 7 p.m.

According to Luis Guzman from the Costa Rican Red Cross, thirteen other tourists were rescued, all in good conditions.

“A group of apparently 18 tourists were doing rafting in this river and three of them capsized, four of them are now confirmed dead, 10 tourists were rescued along with 3 tour guides, one more person is missing. We have had some trouble confirming the total number of tourists and their nationalities since we have been unable to get a hold of the representatives of the tour company”, commented Daniel Calderon, General Director of the Public Police Force.

According to Calderon the rescue groups of red cross and coast guard service will continue the search tonight for the missing tourist until the conditions in the area permit it and if they are unsuccessful they will resume the search in the early hours of this Sunday.

This is one of the most popular rivers to do rafting in Costa Rica, however, the heavy rains of the past few weeks that have affected the Pacific coast certainly increases the risks involved with the practice of this activity.

UPDATE 9:15pm : Apparently, the group of tourists originated from Florida, USA and were in the country celebrating the bachelor party of one of the survivors, they had been staying in Jaco and decided to take the rafting tour at the Naranjo River as part of their activities.