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The local leader of Black River – an area described as “the epicenter” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the immense flooding and widespread devastation caused by the catastrophe.

Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Richard Solomon described enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

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

Several people from Black River are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other fatalities that remain unconfirmed due to communication and travel challenges.

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

“We got up to 16ft of water at the response center. It was a frightening moment for us, and we were praying that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and frankly, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that Black River, located in the hard-hit southwest region of the area, is lacking running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have had their roofing. One official earlier characterized the town as flooded, with more than 500,000 inhabitants without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of Santa Cruz, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and trying to salvage their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and damage assessments have proven extremely difficult because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, police, medical centers and supermarkets were “immensely damaged,” says the mayor.

He is now focused on working to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally submerged by water. The roofing was lost, so I fully grasp the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to focus on getting aid relief for the most vulnerable at this point,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to rebuild the community 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 clear the main roads 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 will be unable to offer goods to individuals who are in dire straits at this time,” he adds.

National leadership has witnessed the damage personally, with an flyover of the area revealing 80 to 90% 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 envision a future of it rising stronger and improved,” he told reporters.

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