Officials in Puerto Rico now say 2,975 people died following Hurricane Maria – a devastating storm that struck the US island territory in September 2017.
The revised death toll is nearly 50 times the previous estimate of 64.
Governor Ricardo Rossello “accepted” the findings in a long-awaited independent investigation.
The mayor of the capital, San Juan, accused the US government of deliberately downplaying the impact of the storm.
Puerto Rico has struggled to repair its infrastructure and power grid since the storm, and is asking US Congress for $139bn (£108bn) in recovery funds.
“I’m giving an order to update the official number of deaths to 2,975,” Governor Ricardo Rossello told reporters on Tuesday. “Although this is an estimate, it has a scientific basis.”
In a statement, the White House said the federal government supported the governor’s efforts to “ensure a full accountability and transparency of fatalities” in the hurricane.
President Donald Trump was criticised for praising the federal response to the hurricane-ravaged island in the weeks following the storm. Critics accused him of showing more concern for residents in Texas and Florida after they were hit by hurricanes.
Why the change in numbers?
The authorities have faced criticism for underreporting the toll of Maria – the most powerful storm to hit the region in nearly 90 years.
Until now, the official figure was 64 – even though the island had previously acknowledged the death toll was probably much higher. In the wake of the disaster, some experts estimated as many as 4,600 deaths.
The latest findings – accepted by the island’s authorities – were made in a report by experts from George Washington University, which the governor commissioned.
The government’s initial number was for those killed directly by the hurricane, crushed by collapsing buildings, drowned or hit by flying debris.
But the new report also counted those who died in the six months following the storm as a result of poor healthcare provision and a lack of electricity and clean water. Repeated power cuts also led to an increased number of deaths from diabetes and sepsis.
The latest findings – accepted by the island’s authorities – were made in a report by experts from George Washington University, which the governor commissioned.
The government’s initial number was for those killed directly by the hurricane, crushed by collapsing buildings, drowned or hit by flying debris.
But the new report also counted those who died in the six months following the storm as a result of poor healthcare provision and a lack of electricity and clean water. Repeated power cuts also led to an increased number of deaths from diabetes and sepsis.
“This shows the magnitude of the catastrophe,” Governor Rossello told El Nuevo Dia newspaper.
When asked why his government was unable to recognise a higher death toll until now, he replied: “I am not perfect. I make mistakes. Now, hindsight tends to be 20-20.”
He echoed one finding in the report – that doctors “lacked awareness” on how to appropriately certify deaths attributed to natural disasters.
Source: BBC
