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The mayor of Black River – a community referred to as “ground zero” for Hurricane Melissa – has detailed the monstrous flooding and extensive destruction wrought by the disaster.

Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, the mayor recalled enduring the intense hurricane at an emergency response center.

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

Several people from the town are confirmed dead, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other deaths that are still being verified due to communication and travel difficulties.

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

“We experienced up to 16ft of water at the emergency operating centre. 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 I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying moment for us.”

Solomon explained that the town, situated in the hard-hit south-western parish of the area, is without running water and electricity, and the majority of structures have lost their roofs. An authority earlier described the town as flooded, with more than half a million residents lacking electricity. A mudslide has obstructed the main roads of a nearby area, where roadways have been turned to muddy tracks. Locals are now removing water from their homes and trying to rescue their belongings.

Rescue efforts and damage assessments have proven almost impossible because all the town’s vehicles and critical services such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now focused on trying to assist the neediest residents, while also coping with the personal impact of the devastation.

“My vehicle was totally covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the suffering that persons are feeling, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on securing aid relief for the most at-risk at this time,” he explains.

The mayor believes that it will take billions of local currency to restore Black River after the hurricane's destruction. At present, he says, the main goal is clearing impassable roads, which have cut off the town.

“We are now trying to get the major thoroughfares and critical lateral roads here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our supermarkets, if not all, were impacted negatively so they won’t be able to offer goods to persons 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 revealing the vast majority of roofs in the area had been destroyed.

“It is going to be a enormous undertaking to restore this historic town. But while it is destroyed, we can vision a tomorrow of it rising more resilient and improved,” he told local media.

“It will be accomplished. So maintain the optimism, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he said.