Amazon is under fire for reported Hurricane Irma price gouging, with 'life-sustaining necessities' selling for wildly inflated prices

Amazon is under fire for reportedly inflating prices as Floridians prepare for Hurricane Irma. 

With local grocery stores selling out of basics such as water and other emergency supplies, many shoppers have turned to Amazon to prepare for the Category 5 storm.

However, some people have been disturbed to find wildly inflated prices for essentials such as water on the e-commerce site. 

For example, a 24-pack of Aquafina - typically sold for less than $6 - was priced at $20. And, Deadspin editor Diana Moskovitz reported that a 24-pack of Nestle bottled water with expedited shipping was priced at $179.25. 

Price gouging on essential items during emergencies is illegal in Florida, the Miami Herald reported. While Amazon is not based in Florida, the Florida Attorney General's office told the Miami Herald that "If a business is selling an essential commodity to persons who are using it in Florida as a result of the emergency, the business may be subject to Florida's price gouging law."

Amazon didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 

The e-commerce giant isn't the only retailer to come under fire recently for apparently inflating prices in emergency situations. Best Buy was accused of price gouging in Texas following Hurricane Harvey, though the retailer told Business Insider that reports of stores selling cases of water for $42 were due to a pricing "mistake."