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PHOTOS: A mountain town in Puerto Rico struggles to recover from Hurricane Maria

In the mountain town of Utuado, Puerto Rico, residents are struggling to recover after Hurricane Maria. There is no running water, so people are collecting water from mountain springs.

In the mountain town of Utuado, Puerto Rico, residents are struggling to recover after Hurricane Maria. There is no running water, so people are collecting water from mountain springs.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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In Utuado, Puerto Rico, residents struggle to recover after Hurricane Maria. There is no running water, so people are collecting water from mountain springs.

Edwin Vidal, 61, a retired member of the U.S. Army special forces, far left, and other men carry Delia Piñeda, 89, from Salto Arriba as they evacuate her from an area cut off from Utuado.

Edwin Vidal, 61, a retired member of the U.S. Army special forces, far left, and other men carry Delia Piñeda, 89, from Salto Arriba as they evacuate her from an area cut off from Utuado.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Delia Pineda, 89, is evacuated from Salto Arriba, an area cut off from Utuado following Hurricane Maria.

Delia Pineda, 89, is evacuated from Salto Arriba, an area cut off from Utuado following Hurricane Maria.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

A family fills as many plastic containers as they can find with water from a mountain stream. Millions of people are without running water in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria.

A family fills as many plastic containers as they can find with water from a mountain stream. Millions of people are without running water in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

In Utuado, Puerto Rico, rushing water from Hurricane Maria tore down trees and stripped them of their branches. The main north-south road is washed out, leaving people cut off.

In Utuado, Puerto Rico, rushing water from Hurricane Maria tore down trees and stripped them of their branches. The main north-south road is washed out, leaving people cut off.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Highway 10, a major north-south connection through Puerto Rico, was washed out by Hurricane Maria.

Highway 10, a major north-south connection through Puerto Rico, was washed out by Hurricane Maria.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

At the scene where three women died in a mudslide, a young women comes to check on her family members. Anxiety is high because there is no phone communication in most parts of Puerto Rico.

At the scene where three women died in a mudslide, a young women comes to check on her family members. Anxiety is high because there is no phone communication in most parts of Puerto Rico.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

As the river rages through Utuado, citizens try to clear a road completely blocked by a mudslide cutting off people who live beyond.

As the river rages through Utuado, citizens try to clear a road completely blocked by a mudslide cutting off people who live beyond.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The mayor of Utuado, Ernesto Irizarry Salvá, right, comforts a man who stopped at a local command center. Like many, the politician lost everything in the hurricane, but he is trying to help residents.

The mayor of Utuado, Ernesto Irizarry Salvá, right, comforts a man who stopped at a local command center. Like many, the politician lost everything in the hurricane, but he is trying to help residents.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

At the command post in Utuado, reinforcements arrive daily, but the demands are overwhelming.

At the command post in Utuado, reinforcements arrive daily, but the demands are overwhelming.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

In the mountain town of Utuado, Puerto Rico, residents are struggling to recover after Hurricane Maria.

In the mountain town of Utuado, Puerto Rico, residents are struggling to recover after Hurricane Maria.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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