Trump tosses paper towels into crowd of Puerto Rico hurricane survivors

The US President has been caught on video while throwing packs of paper towels into a crowd of people in Puerto Rico, devastated by hurricane Maria.

Donald Trump visited locals in the neighborhood of Gauynabo on Tuesday in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. Standing before Puerto Rico residents at a church, the President distributed food to them – and then started hurling bundles of paper towels into the crowd.

Many took to social media to voice their criticism of Trump’s conduct.

U.S. President Donald Trump examines emergency lights being given to a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits a disaster relief distribution point at Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S., October 3, 2017. © Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Trump also handed out flashlights to the crowd.

“Flashlights, you don't need them anymore. You don't need them,” he said.

On the eve of President Trump’s visit, only 5.4 percent of customers on the crisis-affected island had seen their power restored, Reuters cited the US Energy Department as saying on Monday.

During his tour to Puerto Rico, Trump also sparked criticism for his comments comparing the death toll from the infamous 2005 Hurricane Katrina to that of Puerto Rico, which has recently suffered two devastating hurricanes.