MEXICO CITY, Oct 2, 2008 (AFP) - The telecommunications company of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim sent 51 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba for victims of last month's deadly Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, a statement said Thursday.

Telmex and its foundation sent a cargo from the eastern Mexican port of Veracruz with basic food and building materials 'to show solidarity with the Cuban people,' the statement said.

The cargo included 10 tons of rice, 10 tons of beans, 5,250 liters of cooking oil and 5,000 kilos of refined salt.

Cuban authorities have estimated that last month's hurricanes caused five billion dollars in damage. Seven people were reported killed in the storms, which damaged a half million homes and destroyed 63,000 residences.

Slim is one of the world's richest people, with a fortune estimated at 60 billion dollars, according to Forbes.