Puerto Rico governor orders review of all post-hurricane deaths
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico's governor is ordering authorities to review all deaths reported since Hurricane Maria hit nearly three months ago amid accusations that the U.S. territory vastly undercounted storm-related deaths.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in a statement on Monday that it's possible the toll is higher than the 64 deaths currently blamed on the Category 4 hurricane that hit on Sept. 20 with winds of up to 154 mph and caused up to an estimated $95 billion in damage.
His administration has repeatedly defended the official hurricane-related death count even though demographers said a spike in the number of deaths after the hurricane was not normal.
Officials have said the average number of daily deaths increased from 82 to 117 after the storm.
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