Ciego de Ávila, November 29 (RHC-Granma) -- A visit by First Vice President Miguel Díaz-Canel to Ciego de Ávila province gave more encouragement to the 1,699 families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Irma in Punta Alegre, among the more than 31,000 affected across the province.  

Díaz-Canel began his tour in Ciego de Avila, before heading to important resort areas in Jardines del Rey, also damaged by last September's hurricane.

The Cuban vice president talked to residents and authorities, saying that seeing the damage first hand was sobering, while noting the growing popular participation in recovery efforts.

Accompanied by Félix Duarte Ortega and Raúl Pérez Carmenate, president and vice president of the Provincial Defense Council, respectively, Díaz-Canel expressed his agreement with the policy being implemented to rebuild the community with prevention in mind, making an effort to build stronger dwellings to withstand extreme weather events in the future.

In Morón, which has faced a severe drought, he was informed of the improved water situation, and learned that 21.9% of the 7,158 dwellings damaged by the hurricane have been fully repaired.

Visiting Coco and Guillermo Keys, he was able to witness recovery efforts at this beach resort area, where only 364 rooms, of the 7,000 damaged, remain to be repaired.