A California woman remains missing in Costa Rica after severe weather triggered flash flooding and mudslides in the area where she was hiking.
Ashley Phillips, 30, disappeared on June 2 as dangerous conditions swept across the Central American nation. Nearly two weeks later, she has still not been found.
Early search efforts were launched following her disappearance, but those operations have since been suspended because of the extreme weather and treacherous terrain.
In a GoFundMe campaign created June 9, Phillips’ family described the ordeal as every parent’s and sibling’s worst nightmare.
“For the past seven days, the Jonkey and Phillips family have been living through every parent’s and sibling’s worst nightmare,” the fundraiser states.
It continues: “Their beloved daughter and sister, Ashley Phillips, has been missing in Costa Rica after severe weather caused flooding and mudslides during a hike.”
In another update posted on June 12, the family marked 10 days since her disappearance, noting search efforts had become difficult because of the weather.
It continued: “Today marks 10 days since Ashley went on a hike and did not return. Due to ongoing severe weather conditions in Costa Rica, the search efforts have been temporarily paused.”
It added: “However, the search is expected to resume once conditions improve and the drier season begins.”
Costa Rica is currently under a nationwide green alert as authorities warn that heavy rains and already saturated soils are increasing the risk of flooding and landslides across multiple regions.
The country’s National Emergency Commission said unstable weather is expected to continue as the rainy season intensifies and a nearby low-pressure system develops in the Pacific.
Although Tropical Storm Cristina is moving away and is not expected to make a direct hit, officials say it is still influencing conditions by pulling moisture across the country, bringing persistent rain, rough seas and strong winds.
Authorities said the continued activity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is keeping weather patterns unstable, particularly along the Pacific coast and in mountainous areas.
It remains unclear whether local authorities are actively investigating Phillips’ disappearance or whether the U.S. government is assisting with search and rescue efforts.
The California Post has reached out to Costa Rican authorities and the U.S. State Department for comment.
