SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO—Puerto Rico’s governor on Monday ordered authorities to review all deaths reported since Hurricane Maria hit nearly three months ago amid accusations that the U.S. territory has vastly undercounted storm-related deaths. “We always expected that the number of hurricane-related deaths would increase as we received more factual information — not hearsay — and this review will ensure we are correctly counting everybody, he said. The Times’ review, based on daily mortality data from Puerto Rico’s vital statistics bureau, found that 1,052 more people than usual had died across the island in the 42 days after Maria struck. The leading causes of death on the island in September were diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, Puerto Rican government data show. A power line tower downed by the passing of Hurricane Maria lies on top of a house in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Source: thestar December 18, 2017 15:37 UTC