The earthquake caused severe damage that extended over a large region, including the provinces of Limon and Cartago in Costa Rica and the province of Bocas del Toro in Panama. Areas most affected in Costa Rica were the alluvial plains along the Caribbean Coast located west, northwest and southeast of Limon. These areas underwent extensive soil liquefaction and soil failures. Soil liquefaction caused severe damage to roads, bridges, railways, ports, water systems and banana plantations. Geotechnical aspects of bridge and roadway damage are covered in Chapter 6—Bridges.