Jan 4, 2018 - Science
Puerto Rico governor forms task force to examine Maria death toll
Ricardo Rossello, governor of Puerto Rico, speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló has created a task force to examine the death toll from Hurricane María and release its findings within 90 days, per Reuters.
- Why it matters: His decision comes less than a month after Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism and The New York Times reported that the death toll is more than 1,000. The official death count was said to be 64. Following the reports, The governor ordered a recount of every death on the island since Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20, knocking out power to 3.4 million Puerto Ricans.
- Go deeper: Puerto Rico's governor wants recount of hurricane death toll; One-third of Puerto Rico still doesn't have power.