As Trump Golfs, Puerto Rican Death Toll Climbs and Citizens Drink Water from Hazardous-Waste Sites

Death Toll Rises to 48

As Donald Trump left Washington for the Trump National Golf Club this morning, his 72nd trip to one of his golf courses since assuming the presidency, reports surfaced that the death toll in Puerto Rico had risen to 48.

The Washington Post reported that authorities had raised the death toll from the fallout of Hurricane Maria to 48, based on a review of medical records:

The medical examiner concluded that the hurricane was the deciding factor in the three newly disclosed deaths, Secretary of Public Security Hector Pesquera said.

Precise details were not available, but one occurred in the central town of Caguas when a person was unable to get dialysis treatment after the storm knocked out power.

Another happened in nearby Juncos when a person with undisclosed respiratory problems could not get treatment.

The third occurred in the northern city of Carolina when a person suffering a heart attack was also unable to get treatment.

The newspaper’s findings followed a CNN report which discovered that some American citizens in Puerto Rico are drinking water being pumped to them from a “federally designated hazardous-waste site.”

CNN reported that one resident, Jose Luis Rodriguez, was not startled to learn of the water’s source. In his desperation, they reported, he told them “I don’t have a choice. This is the only option I have.”

“The EPA is gathering more information about the quality of water from the wells associated with our Dorado groundwater contamination site, as well as other Superfund sites in Puerto Rico,” the EPA said in a statement issued to the outlet.

“While some of these wells are sometimes used to provide drinking water, the EPA is concerned that people could be drinking water that may be contaminated, depending on the well,” they continued. “We are mindful of the paramount job of protecting people’s health, balanced with people’s basic need for water.”

The Washington Post reported today that about 85% of Americans on the island remain without power, with CNN noting that more than 35% remain without safe drinking water.

This week, Donald Trump threatened to pull FEMA out of Puerto Rico.

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