A massive search has been launched for a California hiker who vanished after flash floods slammed Costa Rica.
Ashley Phillips, 30, disappeared on June 2 after disastrous flash flooding hit the Central American country, her desperate family said.
Phillips, of Santa Clarita, was on a hike when flooding and mudslides suddenly took over, her loved ones said on a GoFundMe page.
‘For the past seven days, the Jonkey and Phillips family have been living through every parent’s and sibling’s worst nightmare,’ the fundraiser read.
In an update on Friday – 10 days since Phillips went missing – Kaylee Baker, a family friend, said that the search for her has been ‘temporarily paused’ due to the intense weather in the area.
A green alert has been issued in Costa Rica, meaning there is an increased risk of heavy rain, flooding, saturated soils, and landslides, according to the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) Costa Rica.
Once weather conditions improve, the search for Phillips will continue, but the country is in the thick of its rainy season right now.
Tropical Storm Cristina, a low-pressure system, is also near the region right now, but is not set to directly hit Costa Rica. Still, officials have warned that it is still bringing constant rain, strong winds, and rough seas.
Ashley Phillips, 30, disappeared on June 2 after disastrous flash flooding slammed the Central American country, her desperate family said
The search for Phillips (left) has been ‘temporarily paused’ due to the intense weather in the area, her family friend said
It’s unclear if local authorities are actively searching for Phillips, or whether the US government is assisting in the efforts.
The Daily Mail contacted the US State Department and Costa Rica authorities for comment.
For now, her family and friends have asked the public to donate to help the ‘dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 10 days to search for Ashley,’ Baker said.
A portion of donations will also go toward ‘a meaningful way to celebrate her life,’ the page read.
As of Monday morning, more than $14,000 had been raised.
Breaking news… updates to follow.
