Bus crashes in Costa Rica, nine dead and 55 rescued

Members of the Red Cross and firefighters work at the scene of a deadly bus accident, where a landslide reportedly hit the vehicle, throwing it off a cliff, in Cambronero, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica in this social media handout image released September 18, 2022. Cruz Roja/Handout via REUTERS

A bus crash caused by heavy rains in Costa Rica left nine dead people on Saturday night, officials said.

Heavy rains across the country caused a landslide on the Cambronero route, in the west of the country 70 km (45 miles) from the capital San Jose.

Firefighters and the country's Red Cross reported nine people died. Authorities found and took to the hospital 55 people.

Members of the Red Cross and firefighters work at the scene of a deadly bus accident, where a landslide reportedly hit the vehicle, throwing it off a cliff, in Cambronero, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica in this social media handout image released September 18, 2022. Cruz Roja/Handout via REUTERS

Hundreds of families had to be evacuated due to the severe damage caused by the heavy rains, the statement added.

Intense rains are expected to continue in coastal areas, the National Meteorological Institute said on Twitter on Sunday.

"This situation in which many families lose their belongings is really sad and worrying," said Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves, who decreed on Sunday a three-day mourning.

Firefighters work at the scene of a deadly bus accident, where a landslide reportedly hit the vehicle, throwing it off a cliff, in Cambronero, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica in this social media handout image released September 17, 2022. Benemerito Cuerpo De Bomberos De Costa Rica/Handout via REUTERS

(Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by William Mallard, Lisa Shumaker and Daniel Wallis)

Firefighters work at the scene of a deadly bus accident, where a landslide reportedly hit the vehicle, throwing it off a cliff, in Cambronero, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica in this social media handout image released September 17, 2022. Benemerito Cuerpo De Bomberos De Costa Rica/Handout via REUTERS