Experts of the Red Sismológica Nacional UCR-ICE are warning that the volcán Arenal could spew out lava and ash in the coming days and has asked area residents to be on the alert and follow the directions of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), in the event of an eruption.

The alert is based on a prognosis following 45 tectonic earthquakes in the colossus, registered during the month of March.

“This may be a precursor of some major event in the short term,” said the report of the RSN: UCR-ICE.

However, Eliécer Duarte, of the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica – volcano and seismic observation – said the volcano has maintained sustained activity for the last 40 years and that, although there will be new flows and related activities, it does not necessarily mean a precursor to “major” cycles and the basis for the predictions.

Turning off the lights for an hour on Saturday night saved some 95 Megawatt hours of electricity in Costa Rica, as part of the Earth Hour, an action against Global Warming.

It is estimated that some 400.000 homes in Costa Rica turned off their lights between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on Saturday.

The numbers were provided by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), the state institute that provides electrical service in the country.
GOOD JOB TICOS!

JetBlue, the American budget airline, made its first non-stop San Jose – Orlando, Florida, flight on Thursday. The airline has begun regular service at a time when tourism to Costa Rica is down.

Tourism officials say that arrivals at both the Juan Santamaria (San Jose) and the Daniel Oduber (Liberia) airports are down 11% over the same period last year.  They say the drop is a reflection of the world economic crisis and the effect on Costa Rica’s primary tourism market, the United States.

The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo has been working at attracting tourists from Europe and Latin America. However, the lack of direct flights to and San Jose impedes attracting some visitors.

Tourism minister, Ricardo Benavides, says that you can get to and from San Jose to anywhere indirectly…no shit. However, this adds more time to the trip and a direct flight is more preferred by visitors.

To that end, Benavides said he has been working to attract more airlines with direct flights to the country. Currently, Iberia provides direct flights between Madrid and San Jose. From Latin America, Taca offers direct flights to Bogota.

To spur travel on its route, JetBlue is offering, until April 8th, flights at us$73 dollars, one way. for travel between April 14 and 17. The regular one way price is us$79