Red alert issued for Costa Rica as Foreign Office warns Brits 'avoid unnecessary travel'

British tourists face heavy rainfall in parts of the Caribbean due to Storm Sara and a red alert warning has been issued by the Foreign Office to avoid travel to one country in particular

British tourists have been warned of heavy rainfall in Costa Rica with a red alert issued by the Foreign Office.

People have been advised to avoid travelling to the country by the Foreign Office, which said that many regions are experiencing downpours.

Belize also issued tropical storm warnings for the Central American country’s coast on Friday as Tropical Storm Sara stalled in the western Caribbean and also dousing Honduras’ northern coast with heavy rain.

Flooding and landslides could occur due to the rainfall in Costa Rica and alerts have been issued in a number of areas, with residents told to prepare for the bad weather.

British travellers have been told to listen to local authorities when abroad. In an update the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued information on heavy rainfall in Costa Rica.

It said: "Costa Rica’s Emergency Services (CNE) declared a Red Alert (very heavy rainfall) for the entire Pacific Region. They have also declared Orange Alert (heavy rainfall) for the Northern Central Valley and Northern Caribbean regions and Yellow Alert (moderate rainfall) for the Southern Caribbean region.

"These conditions are expected to remain through to November 18. "Flooding and landslides may occur, affecting roads throughout Costa Rica. Please avoid unnecessary travel and remain updated on local weather conditions, while following local authorities’ advice."

Sustained rain has already fallen overnight in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, with no immediate sign of serious flooding. Sara was forecast to drop 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimetres) of rain, with up to 30 inches in isolated areas of northern Honduras. The heavy rain could lead to life-threatening flooding and landslides, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.

The weather system made landfall late Thursday about 105 miles west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios, on the Honduras-Nicaragua border, the centre reported. That is near Brus Laguna, a village of about 13,000 inhabitants. There are few other areas of population nearby.

In November 2020, Eta and Iota passed through Honduras after initially making landfall in Nicaragua as powerful Category 4 hurricanes. Northern Honduras caught the worst of the storms with torrential rains that set off flooding that displaced hundreds of thousands. Eta alone was responsible for as much as 30 inches of rain along the northern coast.