Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday appeared in public for the first time after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated the communist Caribbean island to the tune of an estimated 5 billion dollars.

"I ask that you keep your optimism, that hope. Let that spirit not fall because that would be the worst, the demoralization would set in," Castro said as he toured the Isle of Youth.

The western Cuban island was, along with the mainland Pinar del Rio, very badly hit by Hurricane Gustav, and less hard by Hurricane Ike within just over a week.

According to the footage of Cuban television, Castro - who formally succeeded his brother Fidel Castro as the leader of the island in February - asked Cubans to keep their spirits high "no matter how long it takes to solve problems."

On Tuesday, Cuban media cited "official ... preliminary data" that put storm damage at a minimum of 5 billion dollars.

"The country has been devastated in its economic, social and housing infrastructure like never before," the official report said.

It spoke of the loss of half a million homes and hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops, and severe damage to infrastructure.

Still, Castro - dressed in his military clothes - told reporters that the Isle of Youth will be rebuilt to be "just like before and prettier."

"The trees look awful, but nature will take care of that. We along with you will take care of the rest," he said with a smile. (dpa)