SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Nov. 23 (UPI) — The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Otto, the center of which will reach northern Costa Rica or southern Nicaragua on Thursday, is expected to strengthen back into a hurricane.
“Otto expected to restrengthen over the southwestern Caribbean sea,” the NHC said in its 10 a.m. EST statement. “Otto is forecast to become a hurricane again on Thursday before weakening over Central America after landfall.”
Luis Guillermo Solís, president of Costa Rica, ordered a mandatory evacuation of thousands of people along the country’s northern border.
“Families who live near rivers or areas of landslides: Be alert and in contact with the local emergency committees,” Guillermo Solís said in a statement.
Emergency officials in Panama early Wednesday said the highest alert level would be maintained along the country’s Caribbean coast due to the the storm system, which caused flooding.
Officials in Panama said the Sixaola River, which runs along the border between Panama and Costa Rica, is being monitored for potential flooding.
Panama’s National Civil Protection System said at least three people died in Panama due to the storm system.
Guillermo Solís shared a video of an evacuation of families as Otto looms on social media.
