Costa Rica quake rescue under way.1/9/2009 10:44:55 PM Rescue workers in Costa Rica Costa Rica (kŏs`tə rē`kə), officially Republic of Costa Rica, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,016,000), 19,575 sq mi (50,700 sq km), Central America. are trying to reach residents and tourists trapped after a strong earthquake killed at least four people in the country. The earthquake, which measured 6.1 on the Richter scale Richter scale (rĭk`tər), measure of the magnitude of seismic waves from an earthquake, devised in 1935 by the American seismologist Charles F. Richter (1900–1985). , struck on Thursday afternoon, destroying homes in and around the capital city of San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. and triggering landslides which stranded hundreds. The epicentre epicentre Point on the surface of the Earth that is directly above the source (or focus) of an earthquake. There the effects of the earthquake usually are most severe. See also seismology. of the earthquake, the strongest to hit the city in 150 years, was about 30 km north-west of the capital. The National Emergency Board declared a red alert in the centre of the country where more than two million people live. Rescue teams desperately searched for victims around the Poas volcano throughout the early hours of Friday morning and there are fears the death toll could rise. Search helicopters also flew those in need of medical care to local hospitals, while the US army was due later on Friday to send two Blackhawk helicopters, based in Honduras, to help with the operations, AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk network. In order for non-Apple networks to access data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must translate into the AFP language. See file sharing protocol. news agency reported. Hundreds of people remained stranded in the Vara Blanca and Cinchona cinchona (sĭngkō`nə) or chinchona (chĭngkō`nə), name for species of the genus Cinchona, areas, close to the volcano, officials said. Around 400 tourists were trapped in a hotel near La Paz waterfalls that was cut off from roads by a landslide. Authorities said that many residents of the affected area are small farmers who raise livestock or grow strawberries and ornamental plants or rely on increasing tourism. Aljazeera.net 2003 - 2008 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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