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The local leader of Black River – a community described as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation caused by the disaster.

Speaking on the traumatic experience, Richard Solomon recalled enduring the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency response center.

“The entire town of Black River is devastated,” he stated. “And that devastation is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but Solomon mentioned receiving word of other fatalities that are still being verified 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 heavy winds and a lot of rain,” he added.

“We experienced up to 16ft of water 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 scary moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western region of St Elizabeth, is without water and electricity, and the majority of buildings have had their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as flooded, with over half a million inhabitants lacking electricity. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Residents are now removing water from their houses and attempting to rescue their belongings.

Search and rescue operations and evaluations have proven almost impossible because every one of the town’s transport and critical services such as fire, police, hospitals and supermarkets were “severely damaged,” says the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist 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 experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

Solomon believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after Melissa’s annihilation. For now, he says, the priority is clearing impassable roads, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. Most of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they will be unable to provide supplies to individuals who are in need at this time,” he adds.

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

“It is going to be a massive undertaking to rebuild Black River. But while it is destroyed, we can envision a future of it emerging stronger and improved,” he informed reporters.

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