Costa Rican Families Flee Homes Amid Climate Threats

Families in San José's La Carpio neighborhood are making plans to relocate due to "inhumane" conditions and ongoing climate threats. These residents, many with Nicaraguan roots, live precariously between the unstable banks of the Río Torres and a steep hillside.

Heavy rains and winds have intensified these risks, with recent storms damaging homes and prompting temporary evacuations. Despite official reports from October 2025 confirming the area's vulnerability and recommending relocation, governmental support has been absent since the assessment's release.

Community members, like Emilio Peña Delgado, are leading efforts to raise funds for purchasing land outside La Carpio. The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation is supporting this initiative, planning to build affordable shipping-container homes for at least 10 families.

This relocation aims to provide a stable life for families like Patricia Meléndez Narváez's, a single mother whose home was destroyed. The ongoing climate crisis has led to increased extreme weather events in Costa Rica, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and displacement.

Advocates emphasize the municipal government's responsibility in addressing the crisis, noting that while independent organizations have stepped in, the local government's response has been insufficient. The current initiative seeks to forge a path forward, offering a chance for a safer and more stable future.