14th patient dies after Florida nursing home tragedy

Two more women who lived at a Florida nursing home that lost power during Hurricane Irma have died, according to local police, bringing the death toll to 14.

The Hollywood (Fla.) Police Department on Monday said Cecilia Franco, 90, and Francesca Andrade, 95, died after falling ill when the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills lost power Sept. 10 during Hurricane Irma.

{mosads}More than 100 patients were evacuated after the power outage cut off air conditioning to the facility. Eight died before the home was evacuated.

Authorities have not charged anyone, but the police are treating the deaths as a criminal matter.

The facility has since shut down and laid off 245 workers, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) ordered an investigation into the deaths and issued emergency rules requiring facilities to have generators to power air conditioning if power is lost.  

Scott has also faced criticism after nursing home employees said they called a special hotline set up by Scott’s administration eight times in the hours before the residents’ deaths but that their calls were ignored.

Tags Hurricane Irma nursing homes

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