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The mayor of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 storm at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon noted hearing reports of additional deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“Storm Melissa came around 8 a.m. and lasted for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he added.

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

The mayor stated that the town, located in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofing. An authority earlier characterized the town as under water, with over 500,000 residents without power. A landslide has obstructed the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been reduced to mud pits. Locals are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their possessions.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I do understand the suffering that persons are experiencing, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. For now, he says, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“Efforts are underway to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get aid in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they will be unable to offer goods to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation personally, with an aerial tour of the area showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive task to rebuild Black River. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told local media.

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