SEE IT: Hawaii swamped by flash flooding
More than 5,500 residents on Oahu’s North Shore remain under mandatory evacuation orders as catastrophic flash flooding pushes the 120-year-old Wahiawa Dam dangerously close to failure.
At the same time, a separate weather emergency is unfolding in Costa Rica, where a California tourist has gone missing after flash flooding and mudslides hit the region during a hike. The search for 30-year-old Ashley Phillips has become increasingly urgent, but relentless rain has forced rescue crews to pause operations.
Phillips has been missing since June 2. Thirteen days after her disappearance, her family said they are enduring their “worst nightmare” as dangerous conditions continue to hamper search-and-rescue efforts.
Costa Rican authorities have issued a nationwide green alert, warning that the strengthening rainy season and a developing low-pressure system in the Pacific could bring additional landslides and worsening conditions across the country.
A photo shared on Facebook shows Ashley Phillips, 30, who disappeared on June 2 after severe weather swept through Costa Rica.
In an update posted June 12, Phillips’ family said it had been 10 days since she vanished and acknowledged that ongoing weather conditions were making the search increasingly difficult.
“Due to ongoing severe weather conditions in Costa Rica, the search efforts have been temporarily paused,” the family wrote in a GoFundMe. “However, the search is expected to resume once conditions improve and the drier season begins.”
Two people rock climb over a waterfall in a Costa Rica rainforest. (iStock)
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Costa Rica is currently under a nationwide green alert as authorities warnof heavier rains, saturated soils and a growing risk of flooding and landslides across several regions.
On June 4, the National Emergency Commission declared the alert for the entire country with unstable weather expected to continue for the next couple of weeks.
Ashley Phillips’ family and friends set up a GoFundMe for the 30-year-old California woman after she disappeared while going hiking in Costa Rica on June 2. (GoFundMe)
While they continue to wait, Phillips’ loved ones are finding ways to honor her.
“As her family reflects on Ashley’s life, they are finding ways to honor her, especially her deep love for animals,” the family wrote in the update.
“We continue to ask for your prayers for Ashley, for her family, and for peace, strength, and closure during this time,” the family wrote. “Thank you all so much.”
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