« Older Newer »

December 18, 2017

Official Toll in Puerto Rico: 64. Actual Deaths May Be 1,052.

Photo: Alvin Baez/Reuters

Although the official number of deaths because of Hurricane Maria was reported as 64, the New York Times provides an analysis which says the number might be actually much higher.

A review by The New York Times of daily mortality data from Puerto Rico’s vital statistics bureau indicates a significantly higher death toll after the hurricane than the government there has acknowledged. The Times’s analysis found that in the 42 days after Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm, 1,052 more people than usual died across the island. The analysis compared the number of deaths for each day in 2017 with the average of the number of deaths for the same days in 2015 and 2016.

The entire article can be read by clicking the images below or reading it on the New York Times website.

Soon after Hurricane Maria’s devastating passage through Puerto Rico, RMF sent a team to conduct a needs assessment, bring some initial medical supplies, and form local connections. Drawing upon RMF’s emergency health programs and lessons learned in various countries, our response in Puerto Rico will include the implementation of transitional and temporary health posts, such as mobile clinic and outreach services that will seek to provide lifesaving interventions through medical triage of critical cases to functioning nearby heath facilities or hospitals, including transportation of patients by local means. Read more about our initiative on our Hurricane Maria Relief page.

Categories: Disaster Relief Puerto Rico or View All

Return to Top