Six months after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, there are signs of recovery.
Agence France-Presse photojournalist Ricardo Aduengo recently returned to where he took some of his most striking post-hurricane shots to show how the island’s transformation is progressing. He captured once-flooded areas now beginning to be repaired, and shows major highways ripped apart by the storm now reopen to traffic.
The images are promising, but Puerto Rico still has a long way to go. Portions of the island are still without power, cellphone service and electricity, living in houses with torn-off roofs and gasoline-powered generators, even though official government figures show most services have been restored.
Many Puerto Ricans have left the island ― and some may never return. And the tourist industry is still in big trouble. “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has encouraged people to help the island recover by visiting and spending money there.
See the transformation of Puerto Rico in the GIFs below.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
An aerial view of the flooded neighborhood of Juana Matos on Sept. 22, 2017, and then on March 18, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Cars drive through a flooded road in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Sept. 21, 2017, and then on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A house destroyed by hurricane winds is seen in Corozal on Sept. 24, 2017, and then on March 18, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Cars drive through flooded streets on Sept. 21, 2017, and then on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A house destroyed by hurricane winds in Barranquitas on Sept. 24, 2017, and then on March 18, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A car drives on a damaged road in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Humacao on Oct. 2, 2017, and then the same road on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A damaged road in Toa Alta, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 24, 2017, and then the same location on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
An aerial view of the flooded neighborhood of Juana Matos on Sept. 22, 2017, and then on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Damage in Fajardo on Sept. 21, 2017, and then the same location on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Downed power line poles and damaged palm trees in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Humacao on Oct. 2, 2017, and then on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
An area hit by Hurricane Maria in Fajardo on Sept. 20, 2017, and the same area on March 17, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
An aerial view of the damage caused by La Plata River in Toa Alta, west of San Juan, on Sept. 24, 2017, and then on March 18, 2018.
Ricardo Aduengo/AFP/Getty Images
A house that was washed away by heavy surf during the passing of Hurricane Maria is seen in Manati on Oct. 6, 2017, and then on March 18, 2018.
