Heavy rains last night and early this morning, Monday, October 23, caused flooding in the low-lying Upala region of northern Costa Rica, said Costa Rican National Emergency Commission (CNE) officials.

The swollen rivers caused at least 15 people to be evacuated from the San José de Upala neighborhood.

According to Leonel Jiménez, the region’s Fire Department director, a temporary shelter was made available at the local Adventist church.

The National Emergency Commission issued a green alert Sunday for the Central Valley in advance of rains expected this week, as well as for the country’s northern region, while the Pacific coast, which was recently affected by heavy rains and a tropical storm earlier this month, is on yellow, or intermediate, alert.