MAGNITUDE 6.2 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES COSTA RICA,

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000023

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND WHA/PPC, ALSO DEPT FOR USAID/OFDA: ROB
THAYER, JAMES KESSINGER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MASS PGOV SOCI EAID AEMR ASEC PHUM SEVN
KFLO, CS
SUBJECT: MAGNITUDE 6.2 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES COSTA RICA,
DAMAGE LOCALIZED BUT DEVASTATING

REF: A. SAN JOSE 0010 (NOTAL)

B. 08 SAN JOSE 928 (NOTAL)

C. 08 SAN JOSE 800

D. 08 SAN JOSE 197


1. (U) SUMMARY: On January 8, a localized but devastating 6.2
magnitude earthquake struck Costa Rica about 30 kilometers
north of San Jose, near Poas volcano, a popular tourist
destination. As of January 14, there were 23 known dead,
nearly 100 injured and 11 still missing. The killer
earthquake directly affected 61 communities (over 100,000
persons),by extensively damaging or destroying homes,
businesses, bridges and roads. One major hydroelectric
plant, buried under feet of mud, may not resume operations
for a year, according to GOCR officials. The area continues
to get aftershocks and some locations remain unstable; there
could be more displaced persons over time.


2. (U) On January 9, four JTF-B helicopters and 34 personnel
deployed to Costa Rica to conduct rescue operations, working
side by side with the GOCR's National Emergency Commission
(FEMA-equivalent CNE). The Ambassador also exercised his
disaster assistance authority to commit $50,000 to pay for
commercial helicopter rental to augment host GOCR and JTF-B
assets (Ref A). JTF-B helicopters evacuated more than 40
victims, including two injured, and transported nearly 200
rescue personnel plus some equipment over a three-day period.
In a regional first, JTF-B worked side by side with a
Colombian Air Force UH-60 Blackhawk that also deployed to
assist. This earthquake assistance follows on the heels of
extensive USG (via JTF-B) flood disaster assistance in late
November in the Limon province of Costa Rica (septel). JTF-B
should again be commended for another short-notice, weekend
deployment to Costa Rica, and for its outstanding performance
while here. END SUMMARY.

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A KILLER QUAKE
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3. (U) At 1:21 P.M. local time on January 8, a devastating
6.2 magnitude earthquake struck communities in the
mountainous area around Poas volcano, located about 30
kilometers north of San Jose. The quake occurred at a depth
of approximately six kilometers. Widescale destruction and
landslides affected more than 100,000 inhabitants and killed
at least 23 people with more feared lost. More than seven
kilometers of highway were obliterated in the event, with
houses and vehicles buried underneath huge landslides. The
road that connects Vara Blanca to San Miguel is the most
severely damaged, with the town of Cinchona essentially wiped
off the map; road sections as long as several kilometers fell
off the steep embankment and disappeared. At least nine
major bridges were destroyed and most search and rescue
operations were initially only possible using air assets.


4. (U) Although localized, the damage and casualties were
worse than originally expected. In addition to the dead and
missing, over 2000 people are living in shelters and more
than 500 homes/small businesses were severely damaged or
completely destroyed. The GOCR reports that water,
electricity and communications have been restored to over 80
percent of the affected areas, but full infrastructure
reconstruction, especially of roads, may take a long time.
One major hydroelectric plant, buried under feet of mud, may
not resume operations for a year. Costa Rican officials
currently estimate that the earthquake caused more than USD
100 million of damage. The GOCR has asked for a loan in the
amount of USD 65 million (and the national assembly is
working to approve that request) from the International Bank
of Reconstruction and Development to help address this
catastrophe.


5. (U) The Cinchona earthquake, as it is now being called,
also caused significant environmental damage, primarily as a
result of extensive landslides and siltation of creeks and
rivers. Costa Rican volcanologists told us on January 13
that they were "shocked" at the extent of damage near the

earthquake's epicenter. Previously forested ravines were
marred by significant slope failures, leaving entire
hillsides virtually denuded. Although the affected Sarapiqui
River continues to flow, the water is now moving over a
viscous mud layer that has coated everything in its path,
potentially killing all the fish by depriving them of oxygen.
Local scientists worry that the formation of natural dams
and the extensive loss of vegetation could pose further
hazards to public safety, particularly when Costa Rica's
rainy season returns in late April/early May.

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US (AND COLOMBIA) SEND HELOS
--------------


6. (U) Following the earthquake, USAID/OFDA's regional office
in San Jose worked closely with the GOCR's CNE to assess what
international assistance could best help the relief efforts.
The Ambassador authorized USD 50,000 to rent commercial
helicopters to augment the government's efforts to evacuate
the injured and homeless from the disaster area. But, as the
magnitude of the damage became clearer, President Arias asked
the Ambassador on January 9 for additional helicopter
support. (His personal telephonic request followed a letter
from Minister of Public Security Janina Del Vecchio.)


7. (U) On the afternoon of January 9, three UH-60 Blackhawk
and one CH-47 Chinook JTF-B helicopters deployed from
Honduras to help the GOCR. From January 10-12, these
helicopters and U.S. military personnel rescued over 40
victims, including two injured (a host nation rescue worker
with a broken leg and an elderly lady with contusions).
JTF-B helicopters also transported over 200 rescue workers to
and from the disaster zone, including the Ambassador and DCM
who surveyed the damage and met with flight and rescue crews.
The CH-47 Chinook airlifted a "Bobcat" excavation tractor to
assist in digging out vehicles and structures. In a notable
first for the region, the U.S. units were joined by, and
worked very closely with, a Colombian Air Force UH-60. The
Colombians, in addition to transporting rescue workers and
their own personnel to the various sites, also transported
the dead back to collection sites.

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PRIVATE SECTOR PITCHES IN
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8. (U) In addition to the official assistance by the USG,
private American businesses have also stepped up to assist in
the recovery effort. For example, Caterpillar's local outlet
in Costa Rica, Matra, plans on donating machine rental time
(16 machines in total for approximately three months free
rental) to various municipalities throughout the disaster
zone to assist in clean-up efforts.

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OTHER INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
--------------


9. (U) On January 13, the GOCR, via a MFA media release,
thanked international donors for their assistance and asked
for continued help. Amongst others, the GOCR recognized the
U.S., China, France, Venezuela, Mexico, the rest of Central
America, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, and some
international organizations such as the EU, Rio Group and
others. China offered $100,000 in assistance and Venezuela
announced that it was sending cots, tents, gas stoves,
blankets and non-perishable food. The GOCR requested further
assistance in the following areas:

-- international financing to reconstruct vital
infrastructure such as bridges and roads;

-- reconstruction of homes; and

-- revitalization of local economies of affected areas,
such as in agriculture and dairy farming.

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NO AMCITS REPORTED SERIOUSLY HURT
--------------


10. (U) The landslides and severe road damage stranded an
estimated 800 people, including approximately 300 tourists.
All either made their own way out of the affected areas or
were rescued. The Embassy was inundated with welfare and
whereabouts inquiries from the United States about Americans
traveling or living in Costa Rica, but to date, no American
citizens have been reported killed or seriously injured, and
there is no credible information to believe that any
Americans are truly unaccounted for. One Amcit with a broken
leg was medevac'd out of La Paz Waterfall Gardens Hotel a few
hours after the earthquake struck. On January 9, the
Consular section issued a warden message urging Americans in
Costa Rica to contact their families and friends and update
them on their welfare and whereabouts. The message also
noted that most of Costa Rica was unaffected by the quake and
that concerned individuals should continue to attempt to
contact their loved ones directly via email or telephone.

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MEDIA COVERAGE POSITIVE
--------------


11. (U) Costa Rican media coverage of the earthquake
dominated the news, with USG assistance noted and appreciated
in print, radio, television and online; many with front-page
photographs of JTF-B personnel working with Costa Rican and
Embassy counterparts. The most influential daily, La Nacion
(cir. 120,000),reported on January 10 that the U.S. was the
first to offer aid with the $50,000 for helicopter rental and
fuel purchase that enabled the first rescue efforts, followed
by the JTF-B choppers and personnel. Popular centrist daily
Al Dia (cir. 95,000) headlined a January 12 story "Military
personnel an enormous help," and highlighted the U.S. and
Colombian military personnel (the latter trained by the USG)
and equipment that made prompt rescue possible. All major
television channels carried footage of the U.S. helicopter
assistance, and featured interviews with Embassy defense
representatives and JTF-B personnel highlighting U.S.
contributions.


12. (U) The GOCR decreed national days of mourning for the
victims from January 12-16, with the Costa Rican national
colors at half-mast at all public buildings, and all official
festivals suspended. The COM sent an official condolence
letter on behalf of the USG and the American people and
ordered that the U.S. flag outside the Embassy be lowered to
half-mast during this same time period to honor the victims
of the earthquake.

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COMMENT: BECOMING A HABIT?
--------------


13. (SBU) Disaster relief is the sort of military assistance
we, SOUTHCOM and JTF-B are happy to provide (although we hope
it is not needed often). It is ironic that U.S. military
assistance has become one of the first things President Arias
calls for (indeed, expects) in times of national emergency.
For the Costa Rican public, meanwhile, JTF-B Blackhawks and
Chinooks have become welcome and tangible evidence of USG and
U.S. military commitment to help when needed. Also, the
sight of U.S. and Colombian crews working side by side to
help Costa Ricans eloquently illustrated regional cooperation
in action, and may serve as an excellent precedent for future
humanitarian operations.


14. (SBU) We may have to tone down GOCR expectations,
however. For this operation, we were almost backed into a
corner by government-fueled, premature media reporting on
January 8 and a release from Minister Del Vecchio on January
9 announcing that the helos were coming (when they had not
yet been officially requested). In fact, the GOCR assumed
that help was on the way as soon as the first informal query
was made to us. JTF-B moves quickly, but there is a cost

involved for each major deployment, which may burn resources
needed for future operations elsewhere in the region.
Deployments must be based on considered need and an official
request; not on presumptive advance announcements. It would
have been extremely disappointing to Costa Rica (and damaging
to the U.S. image) if we could not have been able to help so
quickly in this disaster.


15. (SBU) There is still public diplomacy and
capacity-building work to be done. Although media coverage
has been extensive and positive, and public sentiment very
thankful, the GOCR is typically faster to acknowledge others'
contributions (and to complain about ours). President Arias
publicly thanked the U.S. on January 12, for example, but
complained in a TV press conference two days later that we
should do more. Image is less important than actually
helping in these cases, of course, but public diplomacy is an
important asset here as we slowly and successfully employ
U.S. military "soft power" in Costa Rica. The Arias
administration cannot have JTF-B on speed dial without giving
appropriate credit and understanding the extent of USG
assistance. Minister of Public Security Del Vecchio wants to
visit Soto Cano to personally thank the JTF-B personnel for
their help and to learn how to better coordinate disaster
operations with us. The first step may be to improve the
GOCR's internal coordination, however. Once the disaster
needs have been addressed, we will turn to these longer-term
issues.


16. (SBU) This operation, and similarly heroic flood relief
efforts in November, highlight the outstanding readiness and
professionalism of our colleagues in JTF-B (as well as of our
dedicated ODR section in the Embassy, which coordinated the
JTF-B operations). We are deeply grateful for their
assistance, and proud to work with them to help those in need.
CIANCHETTE