Five residents at a nursing home in the US state of Florida have died after it was left without power for days following Hurricane Irma.

Police had evacuated 115 residents on Wednesday to other facilities in the area.

Hollywood Police Chief Tomas Sanchez said: "We have five confirmed deaths at this facility.

"At this time we have other patients in critical care.

"Right now the building has been sealed off and we're conducting a criminal investigation inside".

Mr Sanchez said the deaths may be related to the loss of power during the storm.

Police officers have been assigned to check the other 42 assisted living facilities in the area "as a precautionary measure", Sanchez added.

It is thought the resents may have died after a loss of air conditioning during the power outage.

Police Chief Tomas Sanchez said another 115 patients were evacuated, including several in critical condition. His office immediately started a criminal investigation, but Sanchez did not indicate specifically what the office was looking for.

The victims were found inside the centre which sits in a medical complex surrounded by a larger hospital.

However officials say the older care facility is not part of the Memorial Healthcare System.