Surgeons in Puerto Rico ‘use mobile phone light to operate’ as Trump gives his relief efforts a '10'

Former governor Alejandro García Padilla said: 'This is what the US president calls a 10'

Doctors 'struggle to save lives without electricity in Puerto Rico' (agarciapadilla/Twitter)

Surgeons in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico are reportedly using mobile phone lights to see during operations as Donald Trump rates his relief efforts there a "10".

Hurricane Maria tore through the Caribbean island more than a month ago, ripping up houses and knocking down power lines amid carnage that left at least 49 dead, officials said.

Most of the 3.4 million residents are still without electricity, while many complain that aid including food is not getting through.

Critics of the relief operation say the death toll is creeping up in the US protectorate because generators in hospitals are running out, leaving patients at risk.

Mr Trump, however, has praised himself over the relief work in the island.

Speaking after a meeting with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló in Washington over the disaster relief operation, he told reporters: “I would give myself a 10.

"I think we've done a really great job and we've had tremendous cooperation from the governor and we are getting there and people are really seeing the effort that's been put into Puerto Rico."

But former governor Alejandro García Padilla hit back on Twitter and posted a photo showing surgeons allegedly in the island operating with the aid of lights from mobile phones.

Mr Padilla wrote in the tweet: “This is what POTUS [Trump] calls a 10! Surgery performed with cellphones as flashlights in Puerto Rico today.”

His post was circulated on Twitter and sparked comments from users angry at what they believe is a failed disaster relief operation in the area.

Eric Holthaus wrote: “84% of Puerto Rico is w/o power. 28% w/o running water. Yesterday, a surgery was conducted by cellphone light. An affront to humanity.”

Sharon Dennis‏ added: “Love to see Trump do without power for 24 hours.”

But others hit out at the former governor and laid the blame for electricity crisis on his doorstep.

Erick J Morales‏ wrote: “Don't be fooled by Garcia Padilla's bait. His admin neglected the PR power grid too. The problem is incompetence and corruption.”

It has not been verified that the photo of the surgeons working with the aid of portable lights was taken on the storm-ravaged island.

The row came as a floating hospital berthed off Puerto Rico has been hit with complaints after locals reportedly said they didn’t know how to reach the vessel.

USNS Comfort was deployed as clinics on the island have become overwhelmed with patients since Hurricane Maria made landfall on September 20.

But a recent report claimed that just 33 of its 250 beds were in use nearly two weeks after the vessel moored off the Caribbean island.