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WASHINGTON, DC -  The number of people injured from Takata’s exploding airbags is higher than previously thought, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

And one in four of all injuries and deaths occurred in Florida, where high humidity is thought to be a contributing factor in the airbag failures.

According to documents the company provided to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and referenced today by Nelson, five deaths and 64 injuries were allegedly caused by ruptured airbags.  Nelson is the highest ranking Democrat on the committee. 

An investigation last fall by the New York Times put the number of exploding airbag injury complaints received by federal regulators at 37.  A more recent Detroit News article reported that at least 50 injuries were linked to the defective airbags. 

“Takata’s response reveals that the scope of injuries involving rupturing airbags appears to be greater than previously thought,” said Nelson.

The new numbers also indicate that Florida is the state hardest hit by Takata’s defective airbags with 18 of the combined 69 injuries and deaths occurring in the state.

Nelson cited the new numbers Thursday as he and Commerce Chairman John Thune were reintroducing whistleblower legislation on the Senate floor.  The Thune-Nelson bill would reward auto employees who report dangerous safety defects to the government. 

The Florida-specific numbers were tallied from voluminous and mostly mundane answers Takata provided to the panel in response to questions committee members had following the November 20 hearing on the defective airbags.  According to the data, one death and 17 injuries were reported in the state.