Deadly landslide in San Ramón claims three lives amid Costa Rica’s heavy rains

Heavy rainfall late Saturday night triggered a fatal landslide in Piedades Sur, San Ramón, Alajuela, burying a family home and claiming the lives of two adults and a young girl. The Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed the deaths early Sunday following an intense five-hour rescue operation that extended through the night.

Rescue teams arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a house collapse. Six people were inside when the slope gave way. Three managed to escape, while the remaining family members, identified as the grandparents and their granddaughter, were found without signs of life beneath the debris.

The National Meteorological Institute reported that the landslide was triggered by saturated soils resulting from days of continuous rain and a tropical wave moving through the region. The hilly terrain of northwestern Alajuela is particularly prone to slope instability during the wet season, where prolonged precipitation weakens soil cohesion and increases pore-water pressure.

Emergency services remain on high alert as forecasts predict more rainfall in the coming days. Authorities continue to urge residents in high-risk zones to stay vigilant, follow evacuation notices, and prepare for possible additional landslides.

Check out the following video for more information on the fatal landslide.