San Juan, October 16 (RHC)-- In Puerto Rico, the official death toll from Hurricane Maria rose to 48 over the weekend, but authorities warned the true toll could be far higher, since power outages across the island have forced medical officials to rely on handwritten records rather than electronic data.
The news comes as residents desperate for drinking water have begun pumping the Dorado Groundwater Contamination Site -- a hazardous waste Superfund site. The EPA warns the water contains chemicals that cause liver damage and an increased risk of cancer.
About one-third of Puerto Rico still lacks clean drinking water, and a majority of the island's 3.4 million residents still lack electricity. Governor Ricardo Rosselló says he’s pushing a plan to restore power to 95 percent of the grid by the end of December.
Official Hurricane Death Toll in Puerto Rico at 48, Likely to Increase
![](https://www.radiohc.cu/articles/7747-puerto-rico.jpg)
Related Articles
Commentaries
MAKE A COMMENT
All fields requiredMore Views
- ECLAC presents Pillars for Sustainable Tourism
- Cuban beach volleyball duo successfully debuts in Paris 2024
- The Washington Post says sanctions on Venezuela have caused crises three times worse than Great Depression of 1930's
- McDonald's hit by first sales drop since 2020 amid boycott campaign over genocidal war against Gaza
- Israeli Olympic team flagbearer signs bomb shells aimed at Palestinian children: From me to you, with pleasure!