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The mayor of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has detailed the immense flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the catastrophe.

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

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

Five individuals from the town are reported dead, but the mayor noted receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“Storm Melissa came around eight in the morning and continued for around several hours, during which we were battered with heavy winds and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We got up to 4.8 metres of flooding at the emergency operating centre. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the second floor, and I tell you, when we saw the water rising, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

The mayor stated that Black River, situated in the hard-hit southwest parish of St Elizabeth, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. One official previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to mud pits. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have become extremely difficult because every one of the town’s vehicles and essential facilities such as firefighting, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” notes Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely covered by water. The roofing went, so I fully grasp the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a priority for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of Jamaican dollars to restore Black River after Melissa’s annihilation. At present, he states, the main goal is clearing blocked routes, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. Most of our supermarkets, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an aerial tour of the area revealing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a massive task to rebuild this historic town. But although it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told reporters.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will rebuild better,” he said.