Landslide in Costa Rica Kills 23

Residents from San Antonio de Escazu carry a corpse from the landslide wreckage on Wednesday night.

Homes being swept away by the mass landslide after heavy rains on Wednesday.

On Wednesday in San Antonio de Escazu more bodies were recovered after a 48 hour rainfall led to the collapse of a rain logged hillside where 20 people were killed as the rush and mud and water swept aways people in their homes.  Fortunately during the golden hours of the tragedy there were many rescuers including some people from the Red Cross who were there with dogs searching for anyone who may have still been alive.  Many said it was eerie as you could hear people yelling for help but could not see where they were.  There are still thought to be a dozen or more residents missing and it is said that of the 20 found dead, four or them were children.  Prior to the landslide there had been two straight days of heavy rain and received 6.3inches total in just two hours on Wednesday that flooded a river near de Escazu and 600 or more people sought shelter in San Jose.  On Thursday the road leading into San Antonia de Escazu was littered with branches and stones that had been swept away by the mighty currents and some reported piles of boulders 10 feet high.  The debris made it very hard to get people in and out of the city who needed medical aid or for people trying to help the masses of people who were devastated by the landslide. The storm also caused some 9 bridges to collapse which will also hinder rescue efforts, however neighboring countries have been asked to provide aircraft to seek out those in need in some 65 communities in the effected areas.  So far at least 1,500 Costa Ricans have fled to shelter but the good sign is that of the many residents of these villages only a fraction were killed and so maybe warning systems were put into place and heeded with caution as the storms hit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40009265/ns/weather/