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The mayor of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has shared the monstrous flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

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

“The entire town of this area is in ruins,” he stated. “The destruction is so severe that the prime minister classified this area as ground zero.”

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation challenges.

“The hurricane came around 8 a.m. and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 16ft of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and frankly, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit south-western region of the area, is lacking water and power, and most structures have lost their roofs. One official earlier described the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has obstructed the main roads of Santa Cruz, where roadways 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 become almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as firefighting, law enforcement, medical centers and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the disaster.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. My roof was lost, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take millions of local currency to rebuild Black River after the hurricane's annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is removing debris from blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“Efforts are underway to get the main roads and secondary routes here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons who are in dire straits at this time,” he says.

The prime minister has witnessed the devastation first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area showing 80 to 90% of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and better,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will overcome this challenge, and we will rebuild better,” he affirmed.