Former Rare Staff
Eight people have been pronounced dead who lived at a Florida nursing home that was left without air conditioning after Hurricane Irma made landfall in the state, CNN reports.
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According to the The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills, the residents passed away after a prolonged period without access to air conditioning. They ranged in age from 71 to 99 years old. Though the power remained on in the building, a transformer that powered the building’s air conditioner was destroyed by the storm.
Almost 40 other residents of the nursing home were brought to area hospitals.
RELATED: A baby died after a family left their home ahead of Hurricane Irma
Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a strong statement after learning of the deaths of the residents.
“I am going to aggressively demand answers on how this tragic event took place,” Scott said in a statement to the press. “Although the details of these reported deaths are still under investigation, this situation is unfathomable. Every facility that is charged with caring for patients must take every action and precaution to keep their patients safe — especially patients that are in poor health.”
The Hollywood Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.
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