A California woman has gone missing while hiking in Costa Rica as flash flooding and mudslides battered the region.
Ashley Phillips, 30, vanished on June 2 after dangerous weather swept the Central American country.
She has been missing for nearly two weeks as search efforts, which were initially underway, have since been paused due to the torrid conditions.
A GoFundMe set up on June 9 said: “For the past seven days, the Jonkey and Phillips family have been living through every parent’s and sibling’s worst nightmare.
“Their beloved daughter and sister, Ashley Phillips, has been missing in Costa Rica after severe weather caused flooding and mudslides during a hike.”
The fundraiser has a goal of $20,000 and had raised nearly $15,000 as of Monday.
In another update posted on June 12, the family marked 10 days since her disappearance, noting search efforts had become difficult because of the weather.
It continued: “Today marks 10 days since Ashley went on a hike and did not return. Due to ongoing severe weather conditions in Costa Rica, the search efforts have been temporarily paused.”
It added: “However, the search is expected to resume once conditions improve and the drier season begins.”
Costa Rica is currently under a nationwide green alert as authorities warn that heavy rains and already saturated soils are increasing the risk of flooding and landslides across multiple regions.
The country’s National Emergency Commission said unstable weather is expected to continue as the rainy season intensifies and a nearby low-pressure system develops in the Pacific.
Although Tropical Storm Cristina is moving away and is not expected to make a direct hit, officials say it is still influencing conditions by pulling moisture across the country, bringing persistent rain, rough seas and strong winds.
Authorities said the continued activity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is keeping weather patterns unstable, particularly along the Pacific coast and in mountainous areas.
It remains unclear whether local authorities are actively investigating Phillips’ disappearance or whether the U.S. government is assisting with search and rescue efforts.
The California Post has reached out to Costa Rican authorities and the U.S. State Department for comment.
