Municipality of Belen

The Municipality of Belén is a local government entity located in Costa Rica. It serves the residents of the Belén canton by providing municipal administration and public services. Its responsibilities include managing local affairs, maintaining public spaces, and implementing community programs. As a municipality, it operates under the legal framework established for Costa Rican municipal governments. The institution coordinates with national authorities to deliver services such as permits, local taxation, and civic records. Its day‑to‑day operations are directed toward supporting the welfare and development of the community.

In October 2022, the municipality suffered a cyberattack attributed to the Karakurt threat group. The attackers exfiltrated approximately 373 gigabytes of data, including emails, spreadsheets, building diagrams, real‑estate images, invoices, and detention videos. The breach prompted a temporary disruption of online services, leading the municipality to advise residents to conduct transactions in person. Although the attackers claimed possession of sensitive information, no compromised data had been publicly released at the time of the initial reports. The incident highlighted the municipality’s exposure to cyber threats targeting public‑sector entities in the region. Despite the attack, the Municipality of Belén continues to fulfill its governmental functions for the citizens of Belén.