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The local leader of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous storm surges and widespread destruction wrought by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were pounded with heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. It was a bit scary for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon explained that Black River, located in the hard-hit south-western region of St Elizabeth, is lacking water and power, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

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

He is now focused on trying to help the neediest residents, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this point,” he explains.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to restore the community after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he says, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver aid in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been destroyed.

“This will be a massive undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it emerging stronger and better,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.