A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine places the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria at 4,645. That’s far higher than the government’s official count: 64 people. The report, done by researchers at Harvard, follows other studies and reports that said over 1,000 people died.
The study’s authors acknowledge that their count could be off, though the number of deaths is likely between 800-8,5000 deaths. Island officials are now working with George Washington University to review the process for certifying deaths.
All this comes at the same time that hurricane season begins. It officially started on Friday, June 1.
What measures are in place if another devastating storm hits?
GUESTS
Arelis Hernández, Reporter, The Washington Post; @arelisrhdz
Alexis Santos, Director, Pennsylvania State University’s Graduate Program in Applied Demography; @AppDemography
Omaya Sosa, Co-director, Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism; @OmayaSosa
Rick Knabb, Hurricane expert, The Weather Channel; @DrRickKnabb
For more, visit https://the1a.org.
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