‘3,000 people did not die’: Trump disputes Puerto Rico’s death toll from Hurricane Maria

US president claims ‘this was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible’

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US President Donald Trump visiting the Cavalry Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico in September 2018. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00pm, 13 Sep 2018Updated: 6:16am, 14 Sep 2018

US President Donald Trump disputed the number of deaths in Puerto Rico caused by Hurricane Maria on Thursday, saying “3,000 people did not die”, contradicting a public health report commissioned by the island.

In a posting on Thursday on Twitter, Trump questioned a George Washington University study, which found that 2,975 people died as a result of storms there last year and said the results were influenced by political rivals.

A September 2017 photo of Nestor Serrano walking on the upstairs floor of his home after the roof and walls were blown off by Hurricane Maria, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. Photo: AP

Trump throws a paper towel roll in the air at the Cavalry Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on September 13, 2018. Photo: AFP

The study’s death toll far outstripped the previous official tally of 64, which took into account only those deaths immediately attributed to the storm, such as those caused by buildings collapsing and drownings. Improper death certificates also drove down that total, the report found.

Trump also lashed out on Wednesday at San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, whom he called incompetent.