![Puerto Rico's hurricane death toll rises to 45. [Image Credit: Wochit News / YouTube screen cap]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/11/660x290/b_502x220x82/puerto-ricos-hurricane-death-toll-rises-to-45-wochit-newsyoutube_1627125.jpg "Puerto Rico's hurricane death toll rises to 45. [Image Credit: Wochit News / YouTube screen cap]")
The Death Toll after Hurricane Maria is still growing in Puerto Rico, and by Thursday it has reached 45, CNN reported. Most of the territory is damaged, 89% of the area is left without power, and around 47% does not have access to phone service, local officials stated.
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last month, damaging the buildings and main roads. 3.4 million locals were left without water, food, fuel, and access to hospitals and other basic services. In the northern coastal town of Arecibo, locals have been lining up in long queues to buy fuel, ice, and other basic needs.
Severe conditions remain in Puerto Rico
A third of Puerto Ricans are still without water, according to The New York Daily News. Some locals, particularly in rural areas, had to drink water from creeks and local streams contaminated by dead animals, and at least four of them have died from leptospirosis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that leptospirosis has symptoms like jaundice, high fever, vomiting, and red eyes. Officials urged locals to avoid bathing or drinking water from bodies of water that may have been polluted by floodwaters. The patients are treated with antibiotics.
Relief efforts provided by the US government
Chris Krebs, Homeland Security's assistant secretary for infrastructure protection, announced that they were doing their best to provide the necessary relief for Puerto Rico.
More than 110 locals are considered to be missing after the hurricane transformed into a Category 4 storm, and its winds reached up to 150 m.p.h. At least 19,000 personnel, including federal, civilian, and military assistance, took efforts in cleaning the territory.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló wrote a three-page letter to congressional leaders, asking for more than $4 billion to provide the locals with the immediate emergency needs.
He noted that 10 locals have fallen ill with possible cases of the deadly disease and stressed that the necessary treatment should be provided on time.
Last week, the Trump administration asked $29 billion from Congress to fund relief and recovery efforts after Harvey, Maria, and Irma disasters.
San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin confirmed that now the island experiences a lot of health issues.
Patients in critical condition in Puerto Rico have got their treatment hours shortened by 1/4 because of the lack of a steady diesel supply to run their generators in medical centers, the New York Times reported.
