In La Carpio, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of San José, families live under constant threat from landslides and floods. Emilio Peña Delgado, who migrated from Nicaragua as a child, now faces the risk of extreme weather with his own family. Their homes are squeezed between the unstable banks of the Río Torres and a steep hillside, with official reports deeming the area uninhabitable.
On 10 October last year, a severe storm damaged several homes, knocking out steel panelling on Delgado's house. He and his neighbours were temporarily evacuated. Since then, Delgado has led a community effort to relocate vulnerable families to safer ground, sharing updates on his Facebook page to raise awareness.
Delgado is now raising funds to buy land outside La Carpio in the neighbouring province of Alajuela. With support from Gail Nystrom of the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, the plan is to build affordable shipping-container homes. The relocation will begin with ten families, including Delgado's and that of Patricia Meléndez Narváez, whose home was destroyed in the storm.
Narváez, a single mother of six, says her children grow nervous whenever it rains. She sells fruit and faces food insecurity. “The most important thing is a stable life for myself and my kids,” she said, adding that moving away from the river would bring stability.
Costa Rica has been hit hard by hurricanes such as Otto, Nate, Eta and Iota, causing damage worth hundreds of millions of dollars and displacing thousands. After the October storm, a risk assessment by the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Care confirmed the area should be deemed uninhabitable and recommended supported relocation. However, Delgado says he has not heard from any governing body about government assistance.
