Florida governor pledges full investigation into nursing home deaths
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Florida Governor, Rick Scott, has vowed a full investigation into what he called the “unfathomable” death of six residents of a nursing home, which has been without power since Hurricane Irma.
Read: Six deaths at Florida nursing home without power since Irma
The nursing home deaths brought the total number of storm-related fatalities in Florida to 18 and illustrated the urgency of restoring electricity to millions of people across the southern state.
Around 115 residents of the retirement home in Hollywood, north of Miami, were immediately evacuated after a nearby hospital began receiving patients suffering from heat-related problems.
“It’s a sad event,” Hollywood police chief Tomas Sanchez told a news conference. “We believe at this time they (the deaths) may be related to the loss of power in the storm.”
Governor Rick Scott said he was “absolutely heartbroken” to learn of the deaths of the elderly retirees.
“I am going to aggressively demand answers on how this tragic event took place,” Scott said in a statement. “Although the details of these reported deaths are still under investigation, this situation is unfathomable.”
The governor said he has ordered a probe by state authorities.
“If they find that anyone wasn’t acting in the best interests of their patients, we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Sanchez, the police chief, said a criminal investigation had been launched.
Dr Randy Katz, medical director of the emergency department at Memorial Regional Hospital, said the hospital began receiving patients early on Wednesday.
“(We) quickly identified some issues inside the facility with fire rescue and immediately evacuated the building,” Katz said.
He said most of the patients admitted to the hospital have been treated for respiratory distress, dehydration and heat-related issues.
Florida officials have made restoring electricity to the millions who have lost power a priority and tens of thousands of utility company workers, many from out of state, are engaged in the huge effort.
