Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Quepos area on Costa Rica's Pacific coast is popular with foreign tourists

Four US tourists have died in Costa Rica after a rafting accident on a swollen river on Saturday, officials have said.

A fifth person, a local tourist, is also missing.

"Fourteen tourists and three guides on board three rafts, and a kayaker, were on the Naranjito river in Quepos, Puntarenas when the accident occurred," Alexander Morales of the Red Cross told AFP.

The victims have not yet been named.

Rafting is a popular tourist activity in Costa Rica. The country is currently in its wet season, and heavy rain over its Pacific coast has flooded waterways, making water sports more dangerous.

Daniel Calderon, General Director of the Public Police Force, confirmed that 10 tourists had been rescued.

"We have had some trouble confirming the total number of tourists and their nationalities since we have been unable to get a hold of the representatives of the tour company", local outlet the Costa Rica Star quoted him as saying.

Mr Calderon said rescuers from the coast guard and Red Cross would resume searching for the missing tourist in the early hours of Sunday.

Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado expressed his "dismay" at the incident and said he had asked authorities to give all possible support to the victims' families.</s>SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Officials in Costa Rica say some foreign tourists were among five people killed in a rafting accident on a swollen river in the west-central part of the country.

The Red Cross and the security ministry have confirmed the deaths in the accident Saturday on the Naranjito river.

The Red Cross says via Facebook that the victims were in a group of at least 18 people when rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organism is expected to confirm the victims' identities and nationalities later Sunday.</s>Foreign tourists are among five people killed in a rafting accident on a swollen river in Costa Rica, officials say.

The Red Cross and the security ministry have confirmed the deaths in Saturday's accident on the Naranjito River.

The Red Cross said on Facebook the victims were in a group of at least 18 people when rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organism is expected to confirm the victims' identities and nationalities later on Sunday.</s>QUEPOS, Costa Rica - Four tourists from Miami-Dade County were killed Saturday in a rafting accident along the Naranjo River in Costa Rica, officials said.

Marco Monge, press officer for Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Organization, identified the American victims as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Denis. A fifth person, a Costa Rican guide -- Kevin Thompson Reid -- was also killed.

The victims were among 14 people who went on a rafting trip near Quepos, an area of the Pacific coast popular with tourists. The country has seen heavy rains in recent weeks, swelling the Naranjo River.

The group -- alumni of Christopher Columbus High School -- were in Costa Rica to celebrate a friend's bachelor party.

According to BBC News, Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado expressed his "dismay" at the incident and said he had asked authorities to give all possible support to the victims' families.</s>Four American tourists and their tour guide have been killed in a weekend rafting accident in Costa Rica.

Three rafts flipped on the Naranjo River Saturday around 3 pm and the five victims were carried away downstream, according to the Judicial Investigation Organism.

Other passengers managed to cling to the rafts and some were rescued by another guide in a kayak.

The group of Americans were from Miami were all alumni of Christopher Columbus High School and in Costa Rica to celebrate a friend's bachelor party.

Costa Rican officials identified those who died as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Dennis.

The local guide was identified as Kevin Thompson Reid.

In total there were 14 tourists aboard the rafts and five guides.

The Americans had arrived in Costa Rica October 18 and had been renting a house in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, according to the government.

Authorities said the river was swollen by rains

The National Emergency Commission maintained an alert in the area due to the possibility of flooding.

The Naranjo River is one of the most popular rivers for rafting and water sports in Costa Rica.

'Fourteen tourists and three guides on board three rafts, and a kayaker, were on the Naranjito river in Quepos, Puntarenas when the accident occurred,' Alexander Morales of the Red Cross told AFP.

The Red Cross said via Facebook that the rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.

He asked authorities to provide all possible support to the victims' families.</s>The alarm was raised Saturday afternoon following the accident in a swollen river on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, Alexander Morales of the Red Cross told AFP.

Another spokesman, Johnny Zamora, confirmed the American tourists had yet to be identified.

Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado expressed his "dismay" at the incident and said in a statement that he had instructed authorities to provide all necessary support to the victims' families.

The statement added that Costa Rica's foreign ministry has been in communication with the US consulate in the capital San Jose, some 55 kilometers (35 miles) from Quepos.

Rafting is hugely popular with tourists in Costa Rica, which is currently in its wet season, causing waterways to flood.</s>Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Five people, including four American tourists died after three rafts capsized in a river in Costa Rica.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert confirmed the deaths of the four U.S. citizens on Sunday, adding the United States was working with local authorities and was ready to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens in the area.

"We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, and extend our gratitude to Government of Costa Rica for their support in this tragedy," Nauert wrote on Twitter Sunday.

Marco Monge, press officer for Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Organization, identified the American victims as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Denis, Florida's WPLG reported. Costa Rican tour guide Kevin Thompson Reid was also killed in the incident.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the three rafts capsized in the Naranjo River in Naranjito de Quepos, Costa Rica's Ministry of Public Security said.

General Director of the Public Police Force Daniel Calderon said about 18 tourists were traveling on the three rafts at the time of the incident and 13 were rescued.</s>SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Four American tourists and a Costa Rican guide were killed in a weekend rafting accident in the Central American country, authorities said Sunday.

Three rafts flipped on the Naranjo river Saturday around 3 p.m. and the five victims were carried away downstream, according to the Judicial Investigation Department. Other passengers managed to cling to the rafts and some were rescued by another guide in a kayak.

The department identified those who died as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Dennis. It did not list hometowns for them. The local guide was Kevin Thompson Reid.

In total there were 14 tourists aboard the rafts and five guides.

Authorities said the river was swollen by rains and the National Emergency Commission maintained an alert in the area due to the possibility of flooding.

The Americans had arrived in Costa Rica on Oct. 18 and had been renting a house in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, according to the government.

The Red Cross said via Facebook that the rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.</s>Four American tourists and their tour guide have been killed in a weekend rafting accident in Costa Rica.

Three rafts flipped on the Naranjo River Saturday around 3 pm and the five victims were carried away downstream, according to the Judicial Investigation Organism.

Other passengers managed to cling to the rafts and some were rescued by another guide in a kayak.

Costa Rican officials identified those who died as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Dennis. It did not list hometowns for them. The local guide was Kevin Thompson Reid.

In total there were 14 tourists aboard the rafts and five guides.

The Americans had arrived in Costa Rice October 18 and had been renting a house in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, according to the government.

Authorities said the river was swollen by rains and the National Emergency Commission maintained an alert in the area due to the possibility of flooding.

'Fourteen tourists and three guides on board three rafts, and a kayaker, were on the Naranjito river in Quepos, Puntarenas when the accident occurred,' Alexander Morales of the Red Cross told AFP.

The Red Cross said via Facebook that the rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.

He asked authorities to prvide all possible support to the victims' families.</s>SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Four U.S. tourists and a Costa Rican guide were killed in a weekend rafting accident, authorities said Sunday.

Three rafts flipped on the Naranjo River at about 3 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) Saturday, and the five victims were carried away downstream, according to the Judicial Investigation Department. Other passengers managed to cling to the rafts, and some were rescued by another guide in a kayak.

The department identified the dead as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Dennis, all of whom were 25 to and 35 years old. It did not list hometowns for them. The local guide was Kevin Thompson Reid.

In total, 14 tourists were aboard the rafts, along with five guides.

Authorities said the river was swollen by rain, and the National Emergency Commission maintained an alert in the area because of the possibility of flooding.

The Red Cross said the rafts overturned near Liverpool de Quepos.

When rescuers arrived, they found three rafts and one kayak overturned, said Luis Guzman, National Deputy spokesman for Costa Rica’s Red Cross.

They were able to rescue 13 people, all unharmed, who survived by holding on to the rafts, he said. The five that did not survive were found further down the river, he added.

The tourists were white water rafting in a river that was not a part of the national park, instead they were in a forest which was “an area full of nature,” Guzman said.

The Americans arrived in Costa Rica on Thursday and had been renting a house in Playa Hermosa de Jaco, according to the government. They were there to celebrate the bachelor party of one of the survivors, according to Argentinian news organization La Nacíon.

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado expressed his dismay about the accident on Twitter.
Four U.S. tourists are killed in Costa Rica after a rafting accident on a swollen river.