The preliminary number of homes damaged in Cuba due to hurricanes Oscar and Rafael, along with the recent earthquakes in the eastern part of the country, stands at 46,400, as reported by the Minister of Construction, René Mesa Villafaña.
The provinces most affected are Guantánamo, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Granma, as well as the Isle of Youth.
According to Mesa, more than 80% of the damages are classified as partial or total damage to roofs, which could facilitate recovery.
However, the earthquakes have caused more complex damage, affecting 8,612 homes, of which 156 are total collapses.
The data, which increased by 12,000 in a single day, were shared following a session of the National Defense Council, chaired by the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez at the Palace of the Revolution, according to a statement from the Presidency.
The unpopular ruler urged to accelerate the pace of housing recovery, stating that with the restoration of essential services such as electricity, water, and communications, reconstruction must be a priority.
"Starting next week, we will focus on the recovery of the infrastructure," stated Díaz-Canel, who emphasized the need to improve the organization of damage assessments and the distribution of construction materials.
Artemisa has 20,624 damaged homes, but the assessment teams have certified only 26% of the damage. Electrical recovery stands at 44%, while landline service has been restored by 84.6%.
Mayabeque, for its part, has reported damage to 2,209 homes, with only 86 repaired so far. Electrical recovery stands at 96%, although Quivicán remains the most affected municipality.
Havana has nearly fully restored electricity and water, although 295,000 people still face challenges with water supply, the regime reported.
In addition, Santiago de Cuba and Granma, affected by the earthquakes and their aftershocks, report thousands of damaged homes. In Granma, where the damage has impacted 8,174 homes, materials for reconstruction have already been distributed, according to the government.
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