The Costa Rican Government declared three days of National Mourning starting this Friday at noon due to the emergency caused by Tropical Storm Nate in the country and that took the life of eight people.

According to the official decree, October 6, 7 and 8 will be of National Mourning, during these days the National Flag in all government offices will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset and all official festive activities will be suspended.

“The Costa Rica Government expresses the most sincere condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones under these tragic circumstances. The loss of countrymen moves the entire Nation and brings us together in solidarity with those people affected and their families”, reads the press release.

“I appreciate the quick intervention of the rescue teams, whose professionalism and abnegation have been ratified”, stated President Luis Guillermo Solís.

The President confirmed that the priority is to work on reconnecting the communities that have been isolated and guarantee them basic services and supplies.

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) and the Aerial Surveillance Service in coordination with private companies that are operating in the country are joining efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to those people that are in isolated areas affected by the heavy rains of the past days.

The planes will evacuate those that require priority attention such as pregnant women, elder citizens and children. They are also carrying supplies, food, medicine and oxygen for the Escalante Padilla Hospital in Pérez Zeledón.

The first rescue unit began operations the morning of this Friday in the San José counties of Dota and Acosta and in Quepos, Puntarenas two provide attention for two minors, one with respiratory problems and another one with a broken arm, and provide assistance to a pregnant woman.

“We know of the solidarity of the Costa Rican people and we are sure that the assistance of the private sector and the general society will complement our actions and will make this process of recovery of our country a lot more effective”, affirmed Iván Brenes, President of the National Emergency Commission.

As of yesterday Tropical Storm Nate has left a toll of eight dead, over 5,000 people in around 80 shelters, 18 closed roads and 13 others with regulated transit, isolated communities and hundreds of thousands of people without water service.