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The local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the prime minister designated this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are reported dead, but Solomon mentioned hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were battered with strong gusts and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 16ft of flooding at the response center. That was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and most buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents lacking electricity. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their houses and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as fire, police, medical centers and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

He is now focused on working to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof went, so I fully grasp the suffering that people are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a tomorrow of it emerging more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he said.