Earthquake! Poas, Costa Rica

Poas Volcano is the world's most active volcanic crater. On January 8, 2009 an earthquake registering 6.5, rocked the area of Alajuela Province, near San Jose. The epicenter was located in the Poas Volcano region. The earthquake destroyed 16 kilometers of the Vara Blanca road leading up to the area. 25 or more local residents perished, and many more are missing and presumed dead.

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens are completely destroyed and the animals housed there, well, they were in cages, so... A family of three tourists there fell over forty feet from the viewing platform over one of the four waterfalls, but only suffered minor injuries. Tourists and locals who could hike out to waiting rescue vehicles did so, while others were helicoptered out.

The top photo was taken in September. Sulphuric fumaroles are always present, but on the day of the earthquake reports say the entire crater was bubbling and boiling with fumaroles billowing from all sides. If you would like to aid the displaced population or find out more visit the Costa Rican red cross site here http://www.cruzroja.or.cr/ Our tours have been suspended temporarily to this area. This is a very sad and devastating situation for the gentle people and animals who live there, as well as the destruction of some of the most beautiful, misty, pastoral, scenery in the world, often likened to Ireland. Hopefully, the people and the land will recover soon.