San Jose, Costa Rica  - Former German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher was shocked and concerned over the extent of the damaged caused by last week's earthquake in Costa Rica.

The seven-times Formula One champion visited the region around Poas volcano, which were hit hardest together with Costa Rican Transport Minister Karla Gonzalez.

Schumacher is visiting the Central American state for a campaign to promote road safety.

San Jose, Costa Rica - The Costa Rican government is seeking international aid in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake, news reports said Tuesday.

According to Costa Rican authorities, the death toll in the 6.2-magnitude quake has risen to 20 and damage has been estimated at around 100 million dollars.

Eight bridges, 7 power lines, 61 villages and 26 roads were badly damaged in the earthquake, officials said.

San Jose  - A strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter scale, rocked Costa Rica killing at least five people and wounding more than 90 others, Red Cross officials said Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Red Cross confirmed 14 deaths and later said as many as 32 people were killed. The organization revised its figures and admitted the earlier numbers were a result of poor communications and the inability to access many affected areas.

San Jose - At least five people, among them three children, were killed after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter Scale shook Costa Rica, local media reported Friday.

More than 300 people were injured and scores remained missing after the quake, which took place on Thursday at 1.21 pm (1921 GMT) with an epicentre about 35 kilometres north off the capital San Jose.

Numerous subsequent tremors up shook the country up into the morning hours of Friday. More than 1,000 residents in Costa Rica remained shut off as roads remained impassable.

San Jose - A strong earthquake,

San Jose, Costa Rica  - The Costa Rican government has declared the Los Quetzales region the country's 28th National Park.

The 4,000 hectares of reserve were first created in 2005 in one of the rainiest parts of the Central American country, 122 kilometres from the capital San Jose.

According to officials, the park owes its rich biodiversity to the seven different levels of altitude which house 25 different local species, 116 types of mammals and wetlands such as seasonal lagoons from the glacial era.