As Easter celebrations mark the end of Lent season, emergency management and public safety authorities in various Central American nations are reporting the grim tally of injuries and deaths during the week.

Many decades ago, the casualty counts during Semana Santa were negligible, as the majority of devout Catholics used to stay at home and only ventured out to church and religious processions. That has changed as Ticos and their counterparts in the region now take advantage of the break from work and school and hit the busy tourist spots, particularly those near a large body of water.

Here’s a recount of the reports compiled by Spanish news agency EFE as they appeared in El Litoral, a daily newspaper in Argentina, and with additional reporting for Costa Rica:

El Salvador

At least 64 deaths reported, 44 of them homicides. Twenty casualties were caused by road traffic accidents and drownings. There have been 120 injuries caused by highway accidents and over 100 reports of swimmers coming into contact with Portuguese man-of-war.

Nicaragua

The jellyfish infestation in the Pacific beaches of our neighbor to the north accounted for 670 injuries, some reported to be as painful as a first-degree burns and presenting signs of bleeding sores. This high man-of-war count has been unusual this year. Nicaraguan authorities reported 40 deaths in the country, and disclosed that some were due to drownings.

Honduras

A total of 36 deaths had been reported until Good Friday; 21 road traffic accidents and 15 drownings. An estimated 2 million people in Honduras traveled to tourist spots during Holy Week, and transit authorities are keeping a close eye on the motorists as they return to Tegucigalpa.

Guatemala

The National Police in Guatemala reports at least 16 homicides and over a dozen firearm injuries. At least 10 traffic accidents and a handful of drownings have been reported.

Panama

Our neighbor to the south reported no deaths at all. Preliminary reports indicate 44 injuries, most from traffic accidents.

Costa Rica

From Palm Sunday to Easter, the Red Cross reports 21 deaths: 8 were drownings, seven from traffic accidents, two homicides, one from a fall, one from intoxication, and two from natural/unknown causes. The number is sharply lower than last year’s toll of 40, although there are more patients in delicate conditions this year.

The Red Cross performed 15 water rescues, rendered first-aid 277 times in their field stations, and transported 68 patients to medical facilities by water, land and aircraft. Most emergency Red Cross workers are trained volunteers.

According to online news daily Costa Rica Hoy, 46 people were arrested or detained due to disorderly conduct during the traditional burning of the effigy of Judas Iscariot.

A sad note in La Nacion indicated that a young girl in the Pavas district of San Jose sustained a gunshot injury while playing outside of her home. The girl is in stable condition at the Hospital Mexico, but she is scheduled to undergo surgical extraction of bullet fragments from her back. Witnesses told La Nacion that the neighborhood children had opened a fire hydrant and doused a passing car when the driver shot numerous times at them.