Costa Rican President Luis Guillermos Solís called emergency officials and local government leaders for an urgent meeting today, Tuesday, September 26, at 6:30 a.m. to evaluate the extensive impact recent heavy rains have had throughout the country.

The rains have caused damages to homes, road closures, and mud slides in at least half of the counties throughout the country.

Between September 21 and 25 alone, the National Emergency Commission (CNE) has handled close to 500 emergency incidents related to the downpours.

Along with the president, members of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), the National Meteorological Institute, and several mayors were present.

Currently, 188 people are receiving assistance in nine shelters across the nation.

Also leaders of the municipal councils from Oreamuno, Poás, Aserrí, Grecia, Santa Ana, Acosta, San José, Cartago and La Unión were in attendance.

“I wanted to meet to discuss the weather, and make sure institutions are aligned in their work .. and to see if we need to refine the mechanisms and coordination that exist, which have turned out to be very efficient. We have to push forward in the two months remaining of winter (rainy season),” said Solís.

The president sought to evaluate whether, given forecasts for the remaining weeks of the rainy season (which usually tapers off around mid-November), any evacuations might be necessary to avoid fatalities.

Emergency officials said they would be providing further details at the conclusion of the meeting.