The new figures were reported after the conclusion of an independent investigation by a team from George Washington University.

The investigation was commissioned by Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello.

Accepting the results, Rossello told local newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, that the earlier result was a mistake.

"I am not perfect. I make mistakes. Now, hindsight tends to be 20-20," he said.

The governor also pointed out at the inexperience of the doctors who handled the situation.

The reports said that the doctors lacked awareness on how to certify deaths caused due to the calamity.

"The responsibility for adjudicating the cause of deaths rested with the doctors, but unfortunately there was no formal process to prepare them for this kind of devastation," Rossello said.

"At that moment, that was the number that we had and today we have the evidence which indicates the number was definitely higher."

According to the findings, poor healthcare schemes, lack of clean water and electricity too contributed to mortality.

Still reeling under the calamity, Puerto Rico has asked the US Congress for $139bn in recovery funds, as it is an American territory.

Reacting to the new toll, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration supports “a full accountability and transparency of fatalities.”

“The American people, including those grieving the loss of a loved one, deserve no less,” Sanders said in a statement.

However, she did not say if the White House directly approves of the study's findings.

"The devastating back-to-back hurricanes were met with the largest domestic disaster response mission in history, We are focused on Puerto Rico’s recovery and preparedness for the current Hurricane season,” Sanders said.

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