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Nearly half of Puerto Rico still without power months after Hurricane Maria

Friday, December 29, 2017
Months after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, only 55 percent of the island's customers have power.
Three months after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, only 55 percent of the island's nearly 1.5 million customers have power, according to government officials.

One of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities remains entirely without power, and it's unclear when some electricity will be restored to the central mountain town of Ciales. Crews this week restored power for the first time to parts of the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa, which received the first hit from Maria.

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló had pledged 95 percent power generation by Dec. 15, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said the entire island will have power by May.

Fredyson Martinez, vice president of a union that represents workers with Puerto Rico's power company, told the Associated Press on Friday that a recent study by local engineers found that 90 percent of industries and 75 percent of businesses already have power, meaning residential areas are disproportionately in the dark.

PHOTOS: Hurricane Maria pummels the Caribbean
People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Wednesday, September 20, 2017.none
People walk through a flooded area after the impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Wednesday, September 20, 2017.none
Residents move aluminum panels from an intersection after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.none
Electricity poles and lines lay toppled on the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.none
People walk next to a gas station flooded and damaged by the impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Wednesday, September 20, 2017.none
A family helps clean the road after Hurricane Maria hit the eastern region of the island, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, September 20, 2017.none
Trees stand barren and debris lays on the roadside, caused by Hurricane Maria in Road Town, on the island of Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, early Wednesday, Sept. 20.none
A woman covers herself with a plastic bag as she makes her way to work as Hurricane Maria approaches the coast of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.none
A man rescues a rooster from his flooded garage as Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in Fajardo, on September 20, 2017.none
David Cruz Marrero watches the waves at Punta Santiago pier hours before the imminent impact of Maria on Tuesday, September 19, 2017.none
A woman and a child rest on cots while waiting at Humacao Arena refugee center for the imminent impact of Maria in in Humacao, Puerto Rico on Tuesday.none
People on the island of Martinique survey the effects of Hurricane Maria on Tuesday.none
The island of Guadeloupe suffers flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Tuesday.none
A picture shows an uprooted tree on the beach in Saint-Pierre, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on September 19, 2017.Creative Content
A picture shows damages at a restaurant in Le Carbet, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on September 19, 2017.Creative Content
People stand next to debris at a restaurant in Le Carbet, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on September 19, 2017.Creative Content
People clear debris in Saint-Pierre, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, after it was hit by Hurricane Maria, on September 19, 2017.Creative Content
A picture taken on September 19, 2017 shows the powerful winds and rains of hurricane Maria battering the city of Petit-Bourg on the French overseas Caribbean island of GuadeloupeCreative Content
A photo shows debris in a street in Marigot, on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin, as preparations are made for the arrival of Hurricane Maria on September 19, 2017.Creative Content


In recent days, mainland power companies have dispatched crews from Texas, Kentucky and other states to the island to assist with recovery efforts.

The Category 4 storm hit on Sept. 20 with 154 mph winds. Puerto Rico's Department of Public Safety has attributed 64 deaths to the hurricane, a figure that is under review after scrutiny from the New York Times and others.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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