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The mayor of the town of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for the devastating storm – has shared the immense flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the intense storm at an emergency response center.

“Our community of this area is devastated,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as the worst-hit zone.”

Five individuals from Black River are reported to have died, but the mayor noted receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel difficulties.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is without running water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official previously described the town as under water, with over half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where streets have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and grocery stores were “immensely damaged,” notes the mayor.

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

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are experiencing, but what is a key focus 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 Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is removing debris from impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to clear the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively 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 first-hand, with an flyover of the area revealing the vast majority of buildings in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild this historic town. But although it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.