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This local leader of the town of Black River – an area referred to as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, the mayor described enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“The entire town of Black River is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader designated this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from Black River are confirmed to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of additional fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and transportation difficulties.

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

“We got up to 4.8 metres of water at the response center. That was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not increase any more, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a scary experience for us.”

The mayor explained that the town, located in the severely affected southwest region of the area, is without running water and electricity, and most structures have had their roofs. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with over 500,000 inhabitants without power. A mudslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where streets have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to salvage their possessions.

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, law enforcement, hospitals and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says Solomon.

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

“My vehicle was completely submerged by water. My roof was lost, so I do understand the pain that people are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on securing assistance for the most at-risk at this time,” he says.

Solomon estimates that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after Melissa’s destruction. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can deliver relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this moment,” he adds.

National leadership has seen the damage first-hand, with an flyover of the region showing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been lost.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can vision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told local media.

“We will get it done. So maintain the optimism, keep hope alive, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.