Eight people have died at a Florida nursing home which was left without power for days after Hurricane Irma, as police announce they are opening a criminal investigation into the deaths.
More than 100 people were evacuated from the Rehabilitation Center, in Hollywood, on Wednesday morning where residents were suffering from intense heat after the deadly hurricane.
Three residents were confirmed dead at the facility while two others died a short time after being rushed to the nearby Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment, Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief said at a morning press conference.
Three others were pronounced dead later that day, officials said.
It is not yet clear whether the vulnerable residents died from heat exhaustion or another cause.
The center does appear to have had a back-up generator, according to a Rehabilitation Center employee.
Jean Lindor, who worked in the kitchens, told the that the a generator allowed staff to cook but was not used to provide the facility with AC.
Police are now conducting a criminal investigation into the deaths.
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Eight people are dead at a Florida nursing home after the building's air-conditioning broke down during Hurricane Irma (pictured: a patient is rolled out of the nursing home on a stretcher and taken to Memorial Regional Hospital)
More than 100 people were evacuated from the Rehabilitation Center, in Hollywood, on Wednesday morning (pictured)
Residents were suffering from intense heat and lack of power after the deadly hurricane wiped out the buildings electricity, and many had to be stretchered to hospital
Scenes outside the South Florida nursing home where eight people have died after the building lost power during Hurricane Irma
